The Don is Back.

It’s MAGA Time.

On Wednesday last week, Donald J. Trump, Biden’s predecessor returned to the White House as successor to Biden on a courtesy visit that he refused to extend to Biden in 2021. It all seemed like only yesterday that ‘January 6th’ happened. Time must really be an illusion. Maybe there really is no such thing as time after all. It may just be man’s invention as a way to measure, and evaluate, and put things in perspective.

This must be why those who understand the secret of “timelessness” advocate to those who do not have a grasp to “never, never, ever give up.”

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump knows how to fight. If one were looking for a modern day Houdinni, there, you have it. How do you catch a man with his hand in the cookie jar, he has some cookies in his hands, but he says it’s all about persecution, and fake news, and he has people who believe in him still? If he were African, we would easily ascribe his feats to “juju,” but he is of German origin. To what then do we ascribe his appeal?

Long after Trump is gone, books will be written about the ‘Trump phenomenon.’ It is something to be studied.

Now that the campaigns are over, and the election has been won in what one could describe as a Tetrafecta, (A Republican White House, Judiciary, Senate, and House), what remains to be seen is how he proceeds to govern.

A pool of talent abounds in the United States, everywhere you look. What is baffling therefore about Trump is his decision making process. Why in the world for example would he desire to have Matt Gaetz as Attorney General?

If you ever watched the movie starring Leonardo De Caprio, titled: “Catch me if you can,”—-essentially, a Matt Gaetz pick is the equivalent of giving the middle finger to the American political establishment, very much like the villain in the movie. What would be interesting to watch is if indeed American democracy lives up to its billing as the world’s strongest democracy, or if it is just as fickle as its Nigerian counterpart where all arms of government are subordinated to the executive.

Pointedly, the Senate has taken a first step towards asserting its independence by not picking a Trump surrogate as majority leader. What is left to be seen is if they will agree to give up their oversight functions of vetting and consenting, but instead, approve the president’s requests as rubber stamp, or worse still, allow the president to make Recess appointments in order to avoid vetting of his nominees. If it does, from both sides of the aisle, a precedent would have been established, and a slippery slope to national perdition becomes an inevitability.

Let’s take another pick, Robert Kennedy JR. He is a vaccine conspiracy theorist. Without proof, he has linked vaccines to autism. He wants to get rid of vaccine mandates. Think about it like this. Vaccines help to create “herd immunity.” Now, if in a school of 100 children, only 50 children choose to take vaccines because it is no longer mandatory, what happens when one child brings measles to school? One can only hope that adults do not set out to deliberately try out their baseless theories, and anger at the expense of our children, and grandchildren.

Thankfully, a presidential mandate lasts a mere 4 years, and the mid-terms are coming when the system would have a chance to self-correct.

Trump has four years to deport 11 million people, but first, he must build more prisons to hold them in, feed them for the period they are in prison, and provide them with State appointed lawyers until a Judge pronounces the individuals deportable. “Hasta la vista Amigos.” You voted for a man who told you that you were coming to poison the blood of America. Nothing could be clearer. Votes have consequences.

Is a New Edo Rising?

As the year winds down to usher in a new year, a new generation of leadership has emerged in Edo State. The newly sworn in Governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo is in his 50s. He has swung into action immediately. People call him Akpakomiza. Will he be our modern-day messiah or will he travel the wide open road that many a governor has traveled to infamy?

Only time will tell.

I was at the State banquet that was held in honor of the newly sworn-in Governor, and I had a chance to interview a number of Party stalwarts. In talking with Honorable Clem Agba, he said, “The difference he is going to make is in showing empathy to the people. The people need a governor who is in touch with them, with their needs, and aspirations.”

Honorable Victor Eboigbe, Federal Commissioner, a close associate of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had this to say: “Among other things, he should unite the political class, and focus on roads that have collapsed completely in the last 8 years.”

I also spoke with retired Colonel, (Dr.) Imose. “Edo,” he said, “has been in a state of decay in the last 8 years. We need him to focus on health, roads, education and provision of water.”

An erstwhile Deputy Governor of the State, and highly respected Elder Statesman, Reverend Obadan hopes that “the Governor will focus on God,” in order for him to do right by the people.

A two-time Commisioner and highly respected APC woman leader, Omorede Osifo had this to say. “I would urge the Governor to focus on education. That’s the best way to transform the lives of our children, and leave behind, a lasting legacy.”

Chief Richard Lamai, a second generation political leader from Edo North has this to say: “First, we must applaud the political wisdom of allowing Edo Central to produce the governor. Where there’s equity and justice, things flow naturally. That was certainly the case with the emergence of Governor Okpebholo. He is someone who will understand and feel the pain of the people. The major thing I would love for him to achieve is to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”

After the sumptuous banquet, I called Mr. Semi Eriyo. He was very prominent in promoting Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy online during the campaign. He says he has no Party affiliations, but that he is a firm believer in good governance. “Despite the pain of my preferred candidate losing, I would urge the newly sworn in governor to continue with the good projects that Obaseki left behind. He must unite the State and restrain himself from any witch-hunting as there’s so much work to be done.”

I also called up Barrister Dan-Ogbegie. He was a surrogate for the Asue Ighodalo campaign. Here’s what he had to say: “I would not go as far as saying he would rule for 4 years. I would therefore urge him to focus on governance, and avoid any form of belligerence, and vindictiveness to endear himself to the people in the short time that he has. As you well know, we are already in court to retrieve the stolen mandate.”

Madam EdoBest did her Best.

She has a Ph.D. She had a job at top ranked Cornell University. She is a Benin girl, one of our own. She was only in the country visiting family in 2017, when in the course of visiting a school as part of an NGO project she wanted to do in Benin City, she stumbled on a school that was named M.R. She asked what the initials stood for, and she was told it meant Mentally Retarded. She was furious. How could anyone think a school should be named mentally retarded in the 21st century? She did not have much time left to be in the country, but whatever little time she had left, she was going to use it for good. She wrote a letter of concern to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education. She copied the Governor’s office. A few weeks later, as she was getting ready to leave for the US, she got a call. It was Governor Obaseki asking if she could attend a conference that was going to hold at Randekhi hotel. She agreed. While at the conference, when she got a chance to ask a question, she again reiterated. “Mr. Governor, how is it that a school in your State is named M.R?” The Governor walked out of the hall, and made a call for the name to be changed immediately. That same day, the Governor named her Special Adviser on Basic Education. Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, (Ph.D) has a story that needs to be told. We must appreciate one of our own and we must also learn to give credit wherever credit is due. As you move on to new pursuits, Egogonews wishes to join the chorus of people who want to say—“Thank you, for leaving Education in a better place than you met it. We are proud of you.”

Inflation Bites Still.

In the bigger picture of our dear country, Nigeria, inflation continues to rise from last month reaching 33.88 percent, up from 32.70 percent recorded in September 2024.

Who will rescue us from high prices?

Climate Change versus Climate Deniers.

Meanwhile, flood has continued to ravage different parts of the planet as world leaders gather in a conference to consider mitigating factors on climate. Looming large over the Summit is one man who is not there. Donald Trump calls climate change a hoax, and he has doubled down by nominating a climate change denier, and CEO of a fracking company as Secretary of Energy. Well, here we go. You voted for Trump, you have Trump. When the floods come calling in a city near you, you know who to call to rescue you, and your family.

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Michael Ovienmhada.