Opinion
A Tribute To Lord Bacon
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was a great British lawyer, philosopher, politician and writer; became Lord Chancellor in 1621, but was disgraced for taking bribes. Life and politics in England of his time were similar to our current experiences in Nigeria. The allegation of bribe-taking, spear-headed by his political enemies, as Lord Chancellor, was such a wound on his soul that he died a few years after his disgrace.
It is strongly suspected in some articulate quarters that the works (plays and poems) generally attributed to William Shakespeare, actually originated from Francis Bacon. Shakespeare himself (1564-1616), as a stage manager, served as a medium of informing, educating and entertaining the public with Bacon’s scripts which portrayed historical facts about the British elite and ruling class. Soon, the messages which the Shakespearean plays, from The Tempest to Pericles, Prince of Tyre, conveyed, were suspected to be given away by “an insider, a 5th columnist”.
The allegation of bribe-taking and subsequent disgrace of Lord Bacon were the price he had to pay for giving out the exclusive secrets of a closed and classified society. In the play titled The Winter’s Tale, there is an example of how “we are mock’d with art”, whereby plays and drama serve as means of exposing human hypocrisies and follies. A few people knew that Shakespeare did not write the scripts of his plays and sought to know who crafted them.
Only a few people knew that there was some understanding between Francis Bacon and William Shakespeare to keep the source of the scripts of the plays and poems secret. In The Golden Treasury of the best songs and Lyrical Poems in the English language, selected and arranged by Francis Turner Palgrave, any reader can find the lamentation of Lord Bacon titled Life (item 57, page 38).
In what looks likes a lamentation, Lord Bacon says: “The world’s a bubble, and the life of man less than a span: Who then to frail mortality shall trust, but limns on water or but writes in dust … Courts are but only superficial schools to dandle fools: The rural parts are turrid into a den of savage men: And where’s a city from foul vice so free. But may be term’d the worst of all of the three?”
Similarly, in Poem No. 49, Book 1, page 30, titled The Triumph of Death, attributed to W. Shakespeare, the following excerpts reveal that Bacon wanted to remain anonymous: “No longer mourn for me when I am dead… Nay, if you read this line, remember not the hand that wrote it; Do not as much as my poor name rehearse.. Lest the wise world should look into your moan. And mock you with me after I am gone”.
The travails and sad end of Lord Bacon brought about by envy and political shenanigans were portrayed by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) in his Poem: London MDcCCII. Wordsworth painted a sad picture of life in England of those bye-gone days, saying: “O Friend, I know not which way I must look for comfort, being as I am, opprest to think that now our life is only drest for show… The wealthiest man among us is the best: No grandeur now in Nature or in book delight us. Rapine, avarice, expense, this is idolatry; and these we adore; plain living and high thinking are no more…”
Anybody well acquainted with the social history of England during the period of Francis Bacon and William Shakespeare would know that life then was different from what it is now. For example, there were slum dwellers housed in “dreadful warrens of old rotten buildings, or newly erected hovels which clustered about the outskirts of new towns”. Common sports and amusements were horse-racing, cock-fighting, wrestling and other rough and dangerous games.
Streets of London were abominable and ill-maintained, while justice delivery was not different from what we have in Nigeria currently. The Justices of the Peace, on whom the working of the law depended, were hardly better than the rogues they took bribes from. Child labour was common, with pathetic cases of the “chimney-sweep”, where under-aged children were exposed to hazardous labours and under-paid. Sanitary conditions were deplorable, with overcrowding, resulting in 3-4 persons sleeping in the same bed; water was usually drawn from surface wells.
With the Church of England and the Whig party dominant, there were Dissenters and numerous bodies who repudiated the Anglican Church. The result was that occupation of public offices was based on patronage and preferment. Doctrines preached by the churches were not taken very seriously and the level of corruption was such that examination malpractices were common, including getting a degree without writing and examination.
A Tribute to the memory of Francis Bacon is based on his elevation of anonymity as a means of hiding away greatness. His unassuming greatness lay in his writings and philosophy which, because of the myopic mindset and perception of his contemporaries, demanded that he chose anonymity. For the information of those who are unaware of the truth, the works attributed to William Shakespeare are work representing Lord Bacon’s philosophy, which, for some anonymous group, is a secular religion.
Because of the attitude of religious leaders of his time, Francis Bacon passed his philosophy and teachings in the form of plays and poems, hard for obtuse minds to grasp or understand. In a situation where great religious leaders could declare to their adherents that “there is nothing like reincarnation”, those who know the truth may express it in a play or anonymity. Styles of expression of controversial ideas include the use of satire, idiom and other technics which obtuse minds would throw aside as meaningless.
May serious-minded Nigerians take keener interest in studying the works attributed to Shakespeare and appreciate how obtuse humanity is mocked with art.
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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