Tinubu, Cui bono? By Agbese Andrew

The debate on the change of the national anthem reminds me of an exchange between then President Shehu Shagari and then UPN presidential candidate, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The NPN government had in what was later confirmed to be a political vendetta, deported the charismatic majority leader of the Borno State House of Assembly, Alhaji Shugaban Abdulrahman Darman.

Apart from that, the Shagari led government had introduced some measures that to use the words of Chief Awolowo made the “economy to ail critically…everywhere there is hunger, depression and discontent.”

Probably moved by this concern, Awolowo, an authority in constitutional law and versed in Latin, wrote to the President, criticizing the policies and actions of his government asking particularly on the Shugaba matter if Shagari ever paused to ask himself the question, “Cui bono?” ( the Latin for “whom is it going to benefit?”), before taking such decisions.

Replying, Shagari said something to the effect that the Shugaba case, which was already in court would speak for itself. But added probably to mock Awolowo:

“I do not see how you (Awolowo) come in. You are not Shugaba Abdulrahman and you are not even his lawyer. Quite frankly, I never ask myself the question: Cui bono? I ask myself questions in English and Hausa.”

I hope when we ask Tinubu whether he pauses to ask himself the question, “Cui bono?” before introducing certain policies that he wouldn’t tell us that he doesn’t ask himself questions in Latin but in English and Yoruba.

@AgbeseAndrew