People’s verdict on Atiku, Fayose and coup memories

This week, we are focusing on your reactions to articles published on this page. It is the readers’ reaction that shows that the columnist is making the right impact. We value this feedback for it is the lifeblood of journalism. Note that we will not publish anonymous letters.

Fayose and the lore of an old song
The story, “Fayose and the Lore of an Old Song,” was a very brilliant one. You scored a bull eye when you described him as “an attractive imp.” For long, I have long being trying to fixate him. A imp! Whao!! That completely described him. You answered my question of so long. Thank you Sir!
Tom Ita, Lagos. 081822916030.

Is it only Fayose’s election that money was spent on in Nigeria? Tell EFCC they will not be in charge forever. Didn’t APC spend money on campaigns? All APC people and their EFCC should remember that 2019 is at hand. We will retaliate at all cost.
Emma, Lagos. 08099634826.

Great piece! You forgot to be magnanimous enough to cite Buhari’s loan from his bank to purchase a political party’s nomination form to the tune of N27 million. Femi Falana attacked him back then. He never took the bank to court. According to Ola Rotimi in the Gods Are Not to Blame, “a cooking pot for the chameleon is a cooking pot for the lizard.” If Buhari’s support by a bank for his political aspirations had been mentioned in your journalistic piece, I would have shelved my verdict of subjectivity of purpose. Sorry, it wasn’t objective enough. Thanks.
Henry Omoregtie.

No one beats Oga Dare! I forgot about Fayose at some points and got carried away by the writing.
Dele Ajaja.

I love your treatise on Fayose, particularly the statement that “election is not a missionary journey!” Down to earth as usual.
Biodun Akin Fasae.

On Atiku
You got it wrong to say that Atiku helped in fighting Abacha. He lost the vice-presidential nomination of the SDP to Baba Gana Kingibe in 1993 and he was compensated by Abiola and later quit the scene. He even worked for the Abacha junta and participated in their shameful elections. Our senior colleague should be careful in analyzing.
Olu Ayela, Lagos. 08059889791.

On Saro-Wiwa
Thanks so much for your article, Revenge and the Love of Saro-Wiwa. Apart from the core of the article, I find the part on the Berlin Conference very insightful and revealing. However, while I agree that constant debate and dialogue is necessary, I must add that the leadership and the governance structure seem to steer citizens to the path of violence first, then dialogue later. That seems to be the only time that leadership pays attention to the complaints and yeaning of the masses.

While the aforementioned is regrettable for our country, the reality is that our various governments seem to treat dialogue as a tool to be used by the weak and the oppressed unless when initiated by the government itself. That Saro-Wiwa’s effort eventually yield fruits years after, could be as a result of global pressure. Can it yield the same if the pressure is totally within Nigeria? Let our leaders have a department of listening ear! Perhaps dialogue will become a virtue.
Chris Nwogu, Abuja. 08187927218.

Thank you for your clarion call for the Avengers to embrace peace talk rather than war mongering! They need to think of the long term effects of today’s insensitive actions. Well done Mr. Babarinsa.
Elder Jacob Atureta, Abuja. 08033768979.

Re: Dirty water and the Jonathan manuscript
Dare Babarinsa, you wove your Ife of the 1970s seamlessly into our Jonathan of the third (or fourth) Republic that well into the article. I initially doubted whether the title was mismatched with the article until the last set of paragraphs when everything fell in place. Well done, Master of the Art.
Akin Adeniya, Abuja. 08037881467.

Thought Okot p’Bitek was Ugandan. He gained international recognition with his poem, Song of Lawino.
Tunde Ipinmiso, Abuja. 08032769034.

NOTE: You are right! The error is regretted.

Re: Once upon a July morning by Dare Babarinsa
I appreciate your article, Once Upon a July Morning. For me, it was thought provoking. The truth is that the factors leading to the killing of Ironsi and Fajuyi remain a recurring currency of the Nigerian state. Our careless attitude to the values of our heroes remains hellish. In summary, to save your pen from savage wahala, let us begin to think of a restructured Nigeria back to the regional entity.
Jude Ojeagba.

Once upon a July morning refers. Thump up to you Sir. I hope you write books as you can be at the top. We want to know more about this.
Emma Atuluku, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Once Upon a July Morning is a masterpiece. I commend you on this and many other previous ones.
Sola Fatoki, Lagos.

Good day Sir. Good piece, the Once Upon A July Morning. However, the Governor of the Central Bank of Biafra was Sylvester Ugo and not Charles.
Emeka Obasi, Lagos.

Tell me, do such men like Fajuyi still exist in Nigeria of today? I enjoyed Once upon a July morning.
Anastasia Ogbonna.

Thank you so much for Once upon a July morning. Such wonderful story begs to be made into a feature film. I say this because the history of this country should not be lost while we still have some of the players alive and well. That friendship between soldiers – Ironsi and Fajuyi- should permeate our communities now and it should spread like the love Jesus Christ preached. I hope I am not saying too much but just really want to THANK YOU for keeping this and sharing it with us.
Bimbo Okubena.

I enjoy your column in The Guardian a lot Sir. May God continue to strengthen you.
David Lawani.

Your Once upon a July morning is one of the finest piece of write-ups I have read for a long time. You succinctly captured the “inside man” account of the critical events culminating in the Civil War. Thank you!
Samuel Oyiborhoro.

Dare, grandmaster of perspective journalism
Tola Adeniyi Snr

Your article, Once upon a July morning, was exceptionally fascinating to me. I have taken deep interest in our history and culture. I think you should do more about the fly-over bridge in Ado-Ekiti. If we cannot cherish our history and celebrate our past heroes, no one else will do that for us.
Bayo Sobayo.

Thanks for your article, Once upon a July morning. This is why we are appealing that history should be brought back to our schools.
Feyisetan Akeeb-Kareem.

Great treatise on Nigerian history. Fajuyi paid the supreme price for our national unity as a true patriot and gallant soldier. We will not forget him. Thank you sir for revitalising our memory of the past to awaken our present for a better future. This work makes a magnetic reading. Thumb up Sir!
Femi Alufa.

My admired egbon, you are too much! The House Historian back then at Newswatch and TELL. Who can forget Dare Babarinsa essays on Page 3 of TELL back then? I am so proud of you. Continue to teach us the history that will change our mindset about the nation though there are a lot of mistrusts that are making the unity we desire to be so elusive. But we will continue to listen to people who saw the story become history today.
Olagunju Emmanuel Ayobode.

And again and again, you have delved into the hidden treasury with such panache that one almost was visualizing the video of the events rolling. God bless you Sir. You never stop to amaze me story after story. May your pen never run dry.
Bola Koleoso.

Re: Once upon a July morning. Mammy Market was named after Mrs Mammy Ochefu, wife of the late Colonel Anthony Ochefu who served as the Military Governor of the defunct East Central State. She was selling kunu in the barracks in 1959 and many soldiers patronised her. One day, a Warrant Officer observed that the kunu was attracting flies to the barracks and directed her to stop the business. She did, at least until a senior officer sent for her kunu. Told that she had stopped selling kunu because of the directive of the Warrant Officer, a special place was cleared for her to sell her kunu. Other women in the barracks later joined her to sell other items and the market became known as the Mammy Market. Luckily, Mrs Ochefu is still alive and well in Otukpo, Benue State.
Nats Onoja Agbo.