Opinion
The Baduhu Factor In Politics
The term ‘baduhu’ is borrowed from late Cyprian Ekwensi’s novel, The Burning Grass. Known in Igbo parlance as ‘Otumokpo’, baduhu is Hausa word for fetish charm, ‘the giver of darkness’ which is supposed to possess the power to put an opponent in a state of confusion and amnesia. To be able to determine the level of crudeness and depravity or mass enlightenment and maturity of any society, it is usually instructive to scrutinise the conduct of its political and economic affairs. Obviously, Nigerian politicians, at least a majority of them, can be described as patrons of fetishism and cultism.
An ex-gallant General and former head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo, once advised ANC leaders in the fight to end apartheid in South Africa, to use ‘Black Power’ as a part of their accoutrements. If the use of such stuff is not common in Pretoria, surely it is common in Nigeria, and moreso in the arena of politics. Fetish and cult activities are quite prevalent in Nigeria, cutting across all social classes, including the Ivory Towers, as portrayed by late Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, in his novel, Naked Gods.
Nigerians who are deeply perceptive would know that widespread practice of fetishism and cultism account for much of the downward slope of the country. Perhaps it may not be known to those involved in such rituals that the Nigerian environment is being engulfed deeper and deeper by very deleterious radiations. Consequently, not only those who stir up such currents are exposed to the havoc which they unleash, but the effect also spreads wider and places the entire nation in jeopardy. Thus, what we experience as a nation arise largely from the activities and volition of individuals and groups.
Ritual murders and other dark deeds undertaken for political and economic purposes are not fairy tales but realities whose details are unfathomable but gory. Predominance of such propensities and deeds in a society, arising largely from ignorance and extreme grossness, lead to the formation of sources of energy which infect the minds of several people as corrupting influences. Thus patrons of fetish and diabolical practices are not only strengthened and energised by the creations of their volition, but also become means of corrupting the wider society. Realms of such perverted energies can only dissolve gradually when more and more people of goodwill generate positive radiations to counter-balance what predominates at the moment.
Unfortunately, practitioners and patrons of diabolical use of ‘black power’ constantly dig and grope about in the realms of errors and darkness thereby keeping themselves and others in an environment of bondage. They rarely know about their pitiable position, neither can they detach themselves easily from the clutches of the dark forces which they unleash and patronise. Justice demands that those who deliberately stir up the beehive must experience the stings of the bees.
Right approach to the challenges and demands of life does not require the use of short-cuts and smart methods of avoiding costs, by resort to fetish sacrifices and rituals. To steal away and destroy without giving back anything of equivalent value, is to create a vacuum or imbalance which must be atoned for, with tears and agonies, much later. Those are true facts of life which everyone can talk about glibly but whose operational mechanism become lost to the patrons of fetish and diabolical rituals. To dig and grope about in the realm of perverted energies is to miss out the bounties available to those who strive diligently to know the laws of creation.
The Nigerian society has degenerated so deeply into the realm of dark and perverted energies, hence the growing predominance of fetish practices, secret cults, ritual murders, acts of terrorism, insecurity etc. Neither would resort to the use of fetish charms and gory sacrifices for the purpose of political and economic successes help matters. Greed, lust for material goals, and degeneration in value orientation are some of the factors responsible for the search for short-cuts to successes. But there is hardly any substitute to a diligent devotion to searching out the true purposes and meanings of life on Earth.
But where individuals miss out in the principal task of finding purposes and meanings in life, the resort to materialism and the use of sordid rituals for the purpose becomes the means of compensating for the loss of the vital issues of life. A part of the striving in the wrong direction takes the form of sharpening the resources of the brain in frantic efforts to cut corners, cheat, amass wealth and make ritual sacrifices rather than obey the laws of life. Many of those who fall into such traps are often those who long for political power, not to serve the masses and solve human problems, but to amass wealth.
The sad situation is that the temptations have become so overwhelming that even self-proclaimed servants and men of God, have joined the bandwagon of materialists, seeking first the kingdom of stomach infrastructure. Apart from politics and economic affairs, the virus of materialism has also infected marital relationship whereby the administration of sordid concoction to foster greater love has become common experiences. Love, in this case, translates into docility, malleability, and perhaps, inability to be rational in thinking. Thus, commercialism and materialism rule the world.
Irrational beliefs in the efficacy of and resort to ‘black power’ have become so widespread that even highly educated people sometimes get lured into patronising such means as solution to challenges. In most cases, it is the strong and convinced state of the mind of patrons of cult rituals, rather than the rituals themselves, which accounts for the efficacy and wonders attributed to fetish practices. The power of human volition is such that miracles arising from it have often been attributed to something else. What is known as ‘placebo-effect’ relates to what a strong faith and state of the mind can achieve.
Expectedly, religious organisations are in the forefront in the current scramble for miracles and wonders, whose efficacy derive more from faith rather than exorcism and rituals that accompany proceedings. We can also not deny the fact that there are votaries of various centres of energy or thought forms which can be contacted through certain rituals and whose effects can be quite efficacious. The snag is that the diabolical ones are easier to access than benevolent ones, largely because of the predominant frame of mind of the populace.
The ‘baduhu’ cult in Nigeria points towards an increasing vacuum between what man truly is, and what he has negligently made himself to become. Not even cults, rituals, fetish practices or sacrifices can bridge the vacuum. It will require utmost diligence, self-exertion and pains-taking devotion to details, to be able to regain what had been missed out. When politics becomes a cult affair, rituals follow.
By: By: Bright Amirize
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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