Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), is set to urge Nigerians to embrace collective responsibility in tackling insecurity as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Irabor will deliver the keynote address at the unveiling and public presentation of O’to’Ge: The Legacies of Political Leadership in Nigeria, a book authored by Edwin Akwueh, Chief News Editor of the Voice of Nigeria (VON).
The former defence chief believes security should not be left to the government alone, stressing the need for citizens to develop a culture of shared responsibility in addressing the country’s security challenges.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at the National Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, beginning at 9 a.m.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to attend as Chief Guest of Honour, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and Uba Sani of Kaduna State will serve as Special Guests of Honour.
Former Director-General of VON, Osita Okechukwu, will chair the occasion, with the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; and VON Director-General, Jibrin Baba Ndace, serving as Chief Hosts and Host, respectively.
Explaining the inspiration behind the book, Akwueh said it was informed by his coverage of the 2019 general elections, during which the O’to’Ge movement mobilised voters in Kwara State to challenge the political dominance of the Saraki dynasty, which he described as a 40-year political era.
He said the book examines similar political developments in Anambra State in the South-East and Yobe State in the North-East, as well as national political movements such as the Obidients Movement and the Emi lo kan slogan.
According to the author, the book offers a journalist’s perspective on elections in Nigeria and seeks to deepen public understanding of the different paths through which individuals can achieve political success.
He noted that electoral victories depend on more than public emotions, requiring strategic planning, an understanding of the political system and knowledge of voters’ behavioural patterns.
One of the chapters, titled The Master Strategist, examines Tinubu’s decades-long political ambition and his eventual emergence as president in 2023.
The chapter explores strategies associated with his presidential campaign, including the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the role of religion, the Egbetokun factor, efforts to weaken the main opposition and the influence of the Peoples Democratic Party G-5 governors.
Another chapter examines political developments in Anambra State, highlighting the Onyeaghana Nwanneya slogan and the political rise of the late Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah between 2014 and 2024.
It also documents Ubah’s philanthropic activities, his involvement with Ifeanyi Ubah FC and his One-More-Shot Agenda.
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The book’s central chapter returns to Kwara State’s O’to’Ge movement, documenting the contributions of key figures associated with the political campaign, including Alhaji Lazeez Ayinla Kolawole Jimoh, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Akwueh said the publication represents his contribution to Nigeria’s political history and is intended to guide younger generations on navigating the country’s political landscape and achieving political success without relying on godfathers.
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