Anambra Guber 2021: Who’s bankrolling Comrade Deji Adeyanju this time? -By Ifeanyichukwu Mmoh

It is no longer news that come November 18th, 2021 the people of Anambra state of southeast Nigeria will be going to the polls to elect the man or woman who will govern them for the next four (or maybe eight) years. Most of the aspirants are renowned and well-known nationally and internationally while the others are fairly popular. The dominant political parties jostling for the seat of power included the APGA, PDP and APC.

The political atmosphere has been peaceful until a few hours ago when the social media space reverberated because of a post that emanated from the Facebook handle belonging to Mr. Deji Adeyanju; the anything-goes, anywhere-belle-face social climber, selec-activist, town crier and social media wannabe influencer. The post read: “Charles Soludo that raised N2bn to build a hospital for his mother in 2008 but never did, now wants to be Anambra Governor.

Same guy told us Buhari is the best thing after Jesus Christ in 2015. He never criticized Buhari for once for all the crimes against humanity committed against his fellow Igbo brothers but has suddenly joined APGA – the Biafran party. From the PDP to APC, now APGA. Always jumping up and down like a monkey. As CBN Gov, this guy didn’t employ one person from his state but he’s suddenly pro-Igbo. I don’t blame Soludo, it’s those that rate him I blame. He lacks character.”

I had hurriedly composed this rejoinder partly out of angst and partly out of the need to call Mr. Adeyanju and ilks like him especially Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, to order. I am pained at how this young dude has tactically bastardized the once respected social crusading endeavor. A Social Crusader is not just any individual because they knew how to mobilize the public by their rhetoric. Social crusading – I mean the kind bequeathed us by the late sage Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Yinka Odumakin – is much more than that.

PDP

A social crusader – knowing his place as an influencer – doesn’t just engage with any issue by whims and caprice. He is the individual who makes very guarded utterances because he seeks to correct the government and at the same time be a role model of decorum before the public eye. What Deji and folks like Aisha Yesufu, Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Usman has reduced activism into is what I called Paid Towncrier! Alright, let’s look at his post once again.

Charles Soludo that raised N2bn to build a hospital for his mother in 2008 but never did.

Except he’s had a running battle with Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, no right thinking social crusader would address a senior citizen in those derogatory terms. ‘Charles Soludo’ he began, as if the erudite professor was once his student! By my analysis, Prof. Soludo is not only an elder brother, senior or older but he is about the age of Deji’s uncle or even father! So, common sense dictates that as Africans you give respect to whoever it is due. Coming on to disrespect a senior because we’re in the social media age is grossly stupid.

The assertion of a N2bn naira and a hospital that was never built sounded like it was Deji’s banker or former boss or even Deji himself that donated the said N2bn naira to Prof. Soludo. Now, since when has it become the career of a social crusader to go about poke nosing on how a fundraiser used the funds? I am miffed with the fact that Deji condescended so low in the bid to please his sponsors by mentioning a private matter as worthy of public concern.

If he is a lawyer as claimed, he should know better than to bother the public with a private affair. This is because social crusading is not blogging or journalism nor does it award one the license to pry into people’s privacies otherwise if and when sued; there wouldn’t be a law to protect him against paying for damages. We are Nigerians and, we have seen many instances particularly since 1999 where political leaders had diverted tax payers funds under the guise of one people’s project or the other and nothing was done to them.

Is the CBN governor a political leader or a career public servant? Deji Adeyanju should know better. Again, “a hospital for his mother in 2008 but never did” sounded more like a personal affair than a public debate. Was it any of Adeyanju’s problems if indeed the Prof. had raised the said sum and did not go ahead with his initial decision and, if indeed the Prof. failed to raise the said amount and therefore could no longer go ahead with his first decision? You see why Lai Mohammed desperately wants to regulate the social media? Or is he the Prof’s mother?

Ifeanyichukwu Mmoh

Now wants to be Anambra Governor.

Again, unless of course he’s received payment as a so-called social media influencer to lash out against the erudite professor of economics otherwise why would a dude who most probably does not know the way to the newly commissioned Anambra Cargo airport be concerned about who wants to be governor of Anambra state? Professor Soludo wants to be governor and nothing can change that! Not even the recent threat to his life by some unknown gunmen whom we’re now surmising to belong to the Adeyanju camp of traducers.

Never criticized Buhari for the crimes committed against his fellow Igbo brothers.

As earlier mentioned, Deji and his ilks has reduced social crusading to the level of paid town criers or paid advertisers. You will probably see through this dude and how his mind worked when you realized that a crime was committed against humanity but rather than sue for a redress, he waits for a professor of economics who is not even an activist let alone a social media influencer to turn to the streets mobilizing Anambrarians to protest the dehumanization.

But if funds were made available for the mobilization of a peaceful or violent protest; we’re sure Mr. Deji was not going to be left behind for any reason. For the records, Deji Adeyanju is a principal part of the misrule the characterized the stewardship of the PDP for 16 years. The moment power left his former bosses; he turned around to campaign for Senator Dino Melaye who had then decamped to the APC. The same Deji who is guilty of decamping is accusing someone else of jumping up and down like a monkey. Social crusader indeed!

As CBN Gov, this guy didn’t employ one person from his state.

Can we see how low the likes of Adeyanju have condescended just to cast aspersions on prominent personalities in a bid to please their paymasters? Maybe Deji should tell us where his moral standards lay if as a crusader, he rebukes a public servant for not engaging in nepotism. Over the past 5 years, nepotism has been practically institutionalized at the national level of administration in this country and, the likes of Deji have constantly appeared on TV to condemn it. But now, alas we can see that it is all the pay he got from his sponsors!

My question is: na Deji go swallow panadol for Anambra pipul headache? Which one come bi say Prof. no employ give him pipul as CBN governor? Dis Adeyanju own dan dey too much oo! Wetin dey pain pipul pass bi say na money e dey find. E fit bi say APGA dan buy am out to dey para for social media for dem behalf. Lawyer wey no get class. Na so so to dey follow politicians about him sabi. If there was any hustler that is yet to discover his destiny; he was Mr. Deji Adeyanju. He has been spokesperson for Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. He has lead the Concerned Nigerians and he has meddled with about every issue that stirred controversy; many of which he hurried into without stopping to understand the facts. An attention-seeker desperately avoided because of his notoriety by young Nigerians.

He is today making his incursion into the political space of the southeast state of Anambra, throwing tantrums at no other than our respected professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. By the way Prof. is a great potential and, so stones are expected but not from touts like Deji. There are many personalities in the southwest who I believe can give Deji all the attention he so greedily craves. Since he thrives by insulting personalities; I give him Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Afenifere and its chieftains and, the latest activist of the southwest – Sunday Igboho to insult as he pleases. Prof. is not a personality to throws jabs at.

Ndi Anambra what do we say to this insolent youth? Mgbor piawa ya isi.

Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Mmoh; political counselor & advocate for attitudinal change write from Abuja. Catch me on www.DiscourseNigeria.com