General News
Insecurity is everyone’s business, Irabor to tell Nigerians at book launch
Former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), will address Nigerians on the need for collective responsibility in managing insecurity as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Irabor will speak as Keynote Speaker at the unveiling and public presentation of _O’to’Ge: The Legacies of Political Leadership in Nigeria_, a book by the Chief News Editor of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, Edwin Akwueh.
The former CDS believes Nigerians must develop a culture of handling security as a shared responsibility, not one left to government alone.
The launch holds on Wednesday, October 28 at the National Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, beginning at 9 a.m.
President Bola Tinubu is expected as Chief Guest of Honour, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Uba Sani of Kaduna will be Special Guests of Honour.
Former Director General of VON, Osita Okechukwu, will chair the event, with Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and VON DG, Jibrin Baba Ndace, as Chief Hosts and Host respectively.
Speaking on the book, Akwueh said it was inspired by his coverage of the 2019 elections, when the “O’to’Ge” mantra mobilised Kwarans to end the 40-year Saraki dynasty in North Central Nigeria.
He said the book examines how similar political currents played out in Anambra in the South-East and Yobe in the North-East, and nationally with the Obidients Movement and the “Emi lo kan” mantra.
“In a nutshell, the book which is a journalist’s perspectives to elections in Nigeria, seeks to deepen the understanding that there are different paths through which people can succeed in their political journeys,” he said.
Akwueh noted that elections are not won by emotions alone, but by strategy, deep understanding of the system and behavioural patterns of the electorate.
One chapter, “The Master Strategist”, analyses how Tinubu’s over 30-year ambition materialised in 2023, using a blend of old and previously unknown strategies, including the Egbetokun factor, Muslim-Muslim ticket, the faith factor, dislodging of the main opposition and the role of the PDP G-5 governors.
Another chapter focuses on Anambra, capturing the roar of “Onyeaghana Nwanneya” in Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi, and the political rise of late Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah between 2014 and 2024, his philanthropy, Ifeanyi Ubah FC and his “One-More-Shot Agenda”.
The focal chapter returns to Kwara’s O’to’Ge, documenting champions of the liberation advocacy, including Alhaji Lazeez Ayinla Kolawole Jimoh, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The author said the book is his contribution to Nigeria’s political history and a guide for younger generations on succeeding without a godfather.