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I wrote an open letter to Nasir El-Rufai. Our party members were jubilant—cheering, gloating, and celebrating as if I had delivered a knockout punch. My phone buzzed non-stop with calls and text messages, congratulating me. But as the praises poured in, I became increasingly uncomfortable. It was never my intent to hold down Nasir for others to pounce on.
Fast forward two days later, and the president of our country, who also happens to be the leader of our party, imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State. I wrote another piece—this time, to express my strong disagreement and to warn of the dangerous implications. Suddenly, all hell broke loose.
The same people who had hailed me just days earlier were now hurling insults, abuses, and curses. I laughed. Epe a pa elepe. Asasi a pa alasasi .
Ironically, these loudest voices, foaming at the mouth, have gained nothing from the government they so fiercely defend. They are merely the ones holding the horns of the cow. Those truly milking the cow—the real beneficiaries—have remained silent. And when they do speak, it is only to check in on my well-being and gently suggest that, next time, I should share such opinions with them privately.
But democracy does not thrive on silence, nor does it require cheerleaders who follow the wind of power. It needs independent voices, dissenters, and contrarians who challenge the excesses of authority. A society where people only applaud when it suits their biases is one that has lost the very essence of democracy. Democracy is not about blind loyalty; it is about debate, disagreement, and the courage to speak even when it is inconvenient.
Some of us will continue to tell the truth, even if it is only our own truth—to borrow from my book of a similar title, Nothing But My Truth. I do not take myself too seriously, but I will always say what I feel and believe. At this stage in life, it is too late to start being slavish. I am an independent man. Even the gods of today know that. No be today!”
– Babafemi Ojudu.
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