Hello,

It’s great to be back with you this week. How have things been with you? I hope you are still working on your personal goals and doing something daily to help you achieve those goals? For me, it was another week full of activities. I have spent the last few days on the campaign trail helping our party’s candidates to convince the people of Oyo State that we are the best people for the job. We hope that the people will come out en masse this Saturday, May 22, 2021, to make their choice.

I must confess that I have fallen back on my reading. I started looking for my copy of ‘Homo Deus’ sometime last week, and I just could not find it. Funnily, while searching, I found ‘Sapiens’ the book which precedes it. I’d have to get another copy because I really want to complete the reading. I think Harari is a brilliant writer. And he has a way of making you think deeper. For example, in the first chapter of his book, he talked about learning from history. A line I read from him got me thinking, “Movements seeking to change the world often start by rewriting history.”

Rewriting history, not in the sense of erasing the past, but thinking of alternatives, possibilities. So, I consider Nigeria and think about how we can rewrite our history. What “alternate destinies” can we imagine, and how can we attain them? But before you can think of an alternative, you must be convinced that the path you are walking is not in your best interest. So, I often contemplate how Nigerians know that our country is not headed in the right direction; yet, when it comes to articulating an alternative, we sometimes fall short. 

I am convinced that the alternative is tied to true federalism and restructuring. When more powers are devolved to the states, including the power to own their own resources and control the state’s security apparatus, we would be rewriting our history. At the moment, our history is saying that state governors do not have the needed expertise to manage their resources. It also states that the Chief Security Officer cannot be trusted to give the right directives to the security operatives. When you look at things this way, you understand why the alternative is sorely needed.

What role will you play in rewriting this history? You have to participate in the process. As I mentioned earlier, the people of Oyo State are going to the polls this weekend. Each time we go to the polls, we have a chance to rewrite history. We are saying we like things as they are, or we want a new possibility. This is also why we need electoral reforms. The will of the people must always stand. If they have made a mistake, they should always be able to correct it in the next election cycle.

I leave you with these thoughts this week. I should have my book back soon so that I will give you a more comprehensive review of my thoughts on it when next we talk.

Until then, stay safe!