FEMI ADEOTI COLUMN (1)
Its bravery is amazing but largely amusing. Utterly laughable, unthinkable. No one, no group from the North. Has ever come out so ferociously bold and brash. Not even Sheikh Ahmad Gumi. Nor Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) dared it.
While others before it cringed and winced. ADC Vanguard, whatever that’s meant to mean, would not. It did it the right way it should be done. It told us outright what nobody ever did. It exposed their hidden North. We wouldn’t have known.
Recklessly throwing open. What the North wouldn’t want us to know. Now that we know. It simplified and demystified their North. It unveiled what they thought made their North tick.
ADC Vanguard displayed a disturbing carelessness. It fumed uncontrollably. It was at its lowest moment. In the process, it literally crashed the North. From top to bottom.
The myth of the North that once kept it breathing is no more. The damage is done. All the same, new entrant ADC Vanguard did a good job. Great kudos!
By the way, what is this ADC Vanguard? Who are the masquerades behind the mask? Is it one of those mushrooming our choked space? Anyway, whatever it is, whoever it is, its profound message is not lost on us.
The group spills the dirty beans. Their grudges are unthinkable. Out of any sane world. They’re pained President Bola Tinubu is “offending the North.” How? “By decentralising strategic federal institutions that were historically concentrated in Northern Nigeria.”
Out of the whole lot, the group picks just three. Very dear to their hearts. The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, is top-notch. The flagship of their prioritised grievances. For 60 years, NCAT prided itself as the only federal aviation school. Training pilots and engineers.
In those past years, it was manipulated and monopolised. All to the greatest advantage, benefit and favour of their North. Then there was no visible offence in those despicable actions of theirs. NCAT now has campuses in Lagos and Afikpo. To train pilots and engineers closer to southern aviation hubs. It becomes an abomination.
The group moves up further North. Their destination: Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State. It’s Nigeria’s sole degree-awarding police university, established in 1988. Tinubu simply replicates it in Ilaro, Ogun State: “To ease admission pressure and reflect federal character.”
The last straw, the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, Kaduna State. The century-old depot did not escape Tinubu’s lenses. It featured prominently in his crystal ball also. It was the only army basic training ground until 2024. The President decided otherwise for good.
Tinubu unbundled the depot. Two new army training depots sprung up outside of Zaria. Osogbo, Osun State and Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State, are the southern beneficiaries. Both came alive in 2025.
The ADC Vanguard means serious business. They rave, rage, spit with fury: “These institutions were our comparative advantage. Now Tinubu is taking them South.”
Their greatest nightmare. And we fervently pray, it becomes real soonest: “If he is re-elected, he may establish a campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA, Kaduna), in the South as well.”
This is grossly appalling. It’s myopic, selfish and self-centred. For decades, “unity schools,” military formations and colleges were skewed North. Decentralisation corrects that imbalance. It won’t shut down northern campuses. It will enhance them and even give more opportunities to northerners.
They may take solace in this factual report. It may rescue them from their delusion and hallucination. Perhaps wipe away their tears. It offers more understanding and enlightenment. It will surely gladden all sincere hearts:
“NCAT Zaria produces 120 pilots yearly. Nigeria needs 500 plus. Lagos and Uyo campuses double output and cut travel costs for southern cadets. Wudil admits 1,000 cadets yearly for 200,000 applicants. Ogun campus adds 1,000 slots. No northerner loses admission; more Nigerians gain.
“Spreading army depots to Osun and Ebonyi reduces strain on Zaria, creates multiple mobilisation points and denies enemies a single target. The US has West Point, Annapolis and Air Force Academy in different regions. No one calls it ‘offensive.’
“Decentralisation means Kano still has Wudil, Zaria still has Depot and NCAT, but Ilaro and Afikpo also get development. This is shared prosperity, not theft.”
The ultimate, the bottom line: “Calling equity an ‘offence’ exposes an entitlement mindset. Nigeria is a federation. Institutions belong to all 36 states.
“Tinubu didn’t move Zaria to Osun. He replicated capacity. NDA South? If it happens, it will be because Nigeria needs more officers, not because Kaduna offended anyone.”
This report is deep-rooted. And sits well. It pretends not. It speaks to the perceived injuries of the North. It won’t shy away from the bitter truth. It addresses the actualities the very manner they should be addressed. Nothing missing. Nothing broken.
Multiple findings testify that ADC Vanguard has nothing to do with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The duo does not share any identity. Not even slightly, faintly or remotely.
The Vanguard’s tone gives it out easily. It’s to be most likely northern-based. The group is struggling strenuously to position itself as a “northern interest group.” And it’s doing it with ultimate desperation.
Its bitter gripe: Tinubu is breaking northern monopolies. And what about it? That’s glaringly given. We all own this contraception called Nigeria together. We are all equal stakeholders.
So, this old, odd North was never mythical after all! ADC Vanguard proves us right. Emphatically too. Unknown to it, it’s de-marketing its own North. Who cares? And marketing restructuring. We do care. It confirms the North is built on nothingness. Its foundation was established on emptiness.
The result is what the group is flaunting with uncanny pride. We have always known and insisted with sincerity. That their “One North” is a mirage, an illusion. So, also their “monolithic North.” None ever existed. It only did in their wild, weird imagination. All these decades past.
Some of us were coerced and collapsed into their North. We were practically bullied, browbeaten to fall in line. That has been our pitiable lot, we, the Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states. It is the carry-over of the Kabba and Ilorin provinces in their old Northern Region. All against our wishes, aspirations and good conscience.
We never for one day wanted to be yoked together with them. Our affinities can’t meet, don’t agree. That’s a factual fact. It has been playing out since ages. Up to this age. And to the ages to come.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo saw this too early enough. And he made an apt and tactical move. That’s wisdom par excellence. At the London Constitutional Conference, 1958. He frantically made a strong case for Ilorin/Kabba merger. But the NCNC and NPC would not let that be. It was shot down at infancy. Never allowed to breathe even for a split second. Instead, they dubiously promised “democratic solution in future.” It remains a deceit till today.
Sampler: The 1963 Mid-West Region precedent expanded the deception beyond any reasonable doubt. The region was created by referendum in July 1963. But the East and the North looked the other way. They jointly refused to apply the Mid-West principle to Ilorin/Kabba. Or even any other minority in the East or North.
Highly revered Chief Josiah Sunday Olawoyin, Leader of Yoruba in their North, once reportedly “burst into tears.” He feared we, his people, would be abandoned. How true his genuine fear! We are not only abandoned. We’re ditched, forsaken, stranded, rejected and dejected. We are the real wanderers in their North. And we wonder, ponder aloud to high heavens.
Now! The ADC Vanguard is inadvertently changing the narrative. Unsolicited. Purely on its own greedy folly. Its singsong is a sweet melody to our ears. Bringing joy to our tender, innocent hearts. Grateful this is happening this way. Even at this our critical crossroads.
Afẹ́fẹ́ ti fẹ́. A ti rí fùrọ̀ ẹdiẹ: “The wind has blown. We have now seen the anus of the chicken.” The North is blown off. Let’s cover them up with restructuring. It’s the safest landing at hand now.
This decentralisation is working. And is handsomely paying off. It is real, alive and breathing well. It’s healthy. Start decentralisation of the NDA even now. Let the North be scattered. And let restructuring take its place at full blast. No vacuum is tolerated.
FEMI ADEOTI COLUMN (2)
That these June 12 heroes may not remain unsung…
Exactly tomorrow, Friday, May 1, 2026. Another May Day falls on Friday. Just as it did precisely 28 years ago, Friday, May 1, 1998. That fateful day, the bubble burst on tyrant General Sani Abacha. It happened live in Ibadan, Oyo State. It was May Day Riots!
It was a protest to stop Abacha becoming a civilian president. That riot clocks 28 years tomorrow. And its deep wounds are yet to be fully healed. What a concise coincident. The very reason, these heroes shouldn’t remain unsung, unhonoured. It’s a strong plea. A timely message.
They are the “Prisoners of War” (POW) of the June 12. Let’s acknowledge them. And accede the honours due them this season. Even as token of their sacrifice. It’s never late.
Flashback
Dateline: The riot was one violent protest that rattled the authorities. And their response was equally brutal, bloody. They wasted lives in their process to supress it. The riot was against the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by Chief MKO Abiola.
This particular one was to confront the maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha. He was scheming to transmute into a civilian president. His planned D-day was October 1, 1998. He never did. The day came. But Abacha was no more. He didn’t witness it. The riots shook Ibadan to its foundation.
The protesters stormed the city from three directions, simultaneously: Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; Iwo Road and Oyo-Ilorin Road.
They met at the Secretariat, Agodi. And spread to almost all the important places in Ibadan. At least, three lives were lost at Ring Road.
I was Editor, Sunday Tribune. That day, I was in the office, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. The reporters were out in the streets. I was monitoring them with some other staff.
The sister title, Saturday Tribune, expectedly feasted on the story the following day. I needed a fresh and more detailed angle to fly the Sunday Tribune. I knew readers would be on the serious lookout. Waiting for it with bated breath.
On Saturday, May 2, 1998, I constituted a three-man team. I led the team. And we “combed” the nooks and corners of Ibadan. We got startling details. Talked to varied sources including eyewitnesses and rights activists.
The next day, May 3, 1998, Sunday Tribune screamed, “Genesis of Ibadan bloodbath; the untold story.” That was my “undoing,” my “offence.” Operatives of the then State Security Service (SSS), now Department of State Security (DSS), invaded Tribune office.
They charged into the Newsroom. They roared like lions. They wanted Femi Adeoti, Editor, Sunday Tribune and the reporter, Paul Ogundipe (of the blessed memory), for a cheap feast. They angrily left a note for me to report at their Alalubosa Office, at the earliest time, or… They repeated the visit, like the previous day’s manner, on Monday morning, May 4. As usual accompanied with threat, which they called “invitation.”
All through Sunday, Monday, I was out of Ibadan. On Tuesday, May 5, 1998, after making consultations. I was advised to honour the “invitation.” And I did in the afternoon. I showed up at the SSS office, Alalubosa, Alesinloye, Ibadan.
Its state Director was at that time attending a security meeting on the riots at the Military Administrator’s Office, Agodi. His deputy told me to come back the following day, after waiting for close to four hours. He gave me a task; I must come back with the reporter, Paul Ogundipe.
Meanwhile, security agencies were making random arrests of suspected “rioters.” In the process, they picked their “suspects” on the streets, in workshops, homes, shops. A mother of a week-old baby was even “arrested” in a hospital at Osasona Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
I went back to SSS Office, Wednesday, May 6, 1998. And my detention began to tick and count days. I met Chief Bola Ige Alhaji Lam Adesina, former governor of Oyo State. They were my neighbours in SSS. Each of us to a cell.
Unfortunately, Ige was moved to Makurdi, Benue State, the third day of my stay in SSS. He was transported by road in a Toyota Hilux vehicle. All to break his spirit.
Altogether, 50 of us were arrested in connection with the Ibadan riots. And we were tagged “Prisoners of War POW.” The Military Administrator, then Colonel Ahmed Usman, made the announcement. He alleged Ige was the arrowhead, and labelled him “Chief Prisoner of War.”
The POWs garb sticks till today. Other POWs included, but not limited to Comrade Ola Oni, Alhaji Akinsola (aka Tokyo), Alhaji Billiaminu (aka Baba 70) Sunday Blessing (all late), Kehinde Adesina, Jay-Jay Agboola and the only woman, Ayeola.
I spent 11 days with SSS. Four days at the Police Area Command, Iyaganku. And the remaining days at Agodi Prisons, Ibadan. All summed up to 32 days in Abacha’s Gulag.
Abacha died on Monday, June 8, 1998. We were ferried to the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Iyaganku, the third day, Wednesday. And granted instant bail. The bail we were wickedly denied three times before!
Details of this to account are well documented. They are contained in my soon to be released book. Thanks for being on the lookout.
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