Once Upon A Naija

The much anticipated presidential election in Nigeria on 25th Feb was competitive, controversial and climactic. In this episode, Evelyn and Lara shared their observations of the day, expectations for Peter Obi and Nigerian youths as they prepare for another 8 years of APC government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This is our final episode for this season. We have thoroughly enjoyed being on this road to the 2023 presidential election with our listeners and we look forward to returning with another engaging season in July. Until then, feel free to listen to all our past episodes, share and engage with us on all our social media platforms.

By the way, you may notice that our description of the BVAS was not totally coherent in this episode so before you flog us, here is our correction.

"The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS),  is a device introduced by INEC in 2021 aimed at stopping election fraud.

The BVAS is essentially a small rectangular box with a screen that is more technologically advanced than the Smart Card Readers used in the past.

The key benefit of the BVAS is that it has the capacity to perform dual identification of voters on election day through their fingerprints and facial recognition. This should stop people without valid PVCs from voting, as well as those who are ineligible to vote attempting to do so.

With just 5 days away from the 2023 presidential election, we took a moment to share our final thoughts on the journey so far and matters such as silent voters, what is at stake if Nigerians get it wrong, do celebrities have a legitimate role to play in influencing people's votes? What could possibly go wrong? Will Peter Obi emerge the winner according to the polls?  What if there is a repeat of the 1993 annulment?  So much to consider!

You don't want to miss this episode. Listen and share your thoughts with us!

This episode is about the man getting Nigerians excited about the 2023 presidential election, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party. There is a buzz around Peter Obi. His supporters think he is the antidote to Nigeria’s political woes. So, we talk about the things that makes him a viable candidate and concerns about whether he has the political stature to deliver all that he promises. Despite his almost perfect persona, he is not a man without controversy so we reviewed his secret activities revealed in the Pandora Papers and question whether he is truly the messiah Nigerians are waiting for. 

This is a man fighting against all odds, what are his chances? Is he your man for the job? Let us know your thoughts

The man who rules the city of Lagos now wants to rule the Federal Republic of Nigeria as President. This episode is all about Bola Ahmed Tinubu, popularly know as the ‘Jagaban of Lagos’ – the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) . Is he the man with the political power and will to bring about the change and development Nigerians are yearning for? We discussed his credentials such as his transformation of Lagos and identity as a political godfather. We also reviewed the many controversies about his person and leadership such as drug dealing, nepotism, acquiring public assets for himself and media influence

Will you be supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Is he healthy enough to cope with the rigors of presidency and can he deliver the change and progress the country desperately deserves? Let us know your thoughts!

Is Atiku Abubakar your man for the job? This episode is all about the presidential candidate for the People's Democratic Party (PDP). We talk about why he wants to be president so badly, party-hopping, what his previous boss had to say about him, his manifesto and the scandals! Will you be voting for him in the 2023 presidential election or not? Let us know your thoughts. 

On this episode, we discussed all things Buhari! When he was elected on his 4th attempt as Nigeria’s president in 2015,  he was meant to be the visionary, no-nonsense, disciplinarian who will tackle corruption and revive the country’s dangling economy. As he prepares to leave aso-rock after 8 years in power, we take some time to review the man, his promises & legacy. We ask, does he have a legacy to hold on to or has it been a colossal waste? Let us know what you think.

In this 2in1 episode, Lara and Evelyn briefly reviewed the 'The Herbert Macaulay Affair' film before deep diving into the life of the man and hero. Many Nigerians will only remember him as the man on the one naira coin, others have confessed to thinking he was a white man. However, no longer shall you be in the dark because we bring to you all the true colours of Herbert Olayinka Macaulay. From his loud critic of the British colonial administration, advocating the rights of Lagosians, to establishing the first organised political party in Nigeria. He left a legacy which earned him his position as the 'Father of Nigeria Nationalism'. You can find out more about Herbert Macaulay other notable figures in the book 'Nigerians of Interest', available on Amazon.

When the British Govt asked for more, the Aba women rebelled. From Calabar to Owerri and its environs, thousands of women armed with their voices and bodies protested against the excessive powers of the British government and its warrant chiefs. 

Their clamour for their rights not to pay taxes and preserve their liberty led to the famous event known as the 'Aba Women's Riot' in which many lives were lost.

In this episode, Evelyn and Lara explore the plot and outcomes of these brave women's intolerance against tyranny.

Shownotes:

On this episode, Evelyn & Lara review the film 1929. 

The film centers its narrative on strong female protagonists to tell a story about the rebellion of women in South-Eastern Nigeria against Britain's exploitative tax policies and patriarchal legal structures. 

As always, Lara and Evelyn delve into the nooks and crannies to bring you their honest opinions. 

Have you watched 1929? If not, check it out on Amazon Prime and let us know what you think.

In the years following its independence in 1960, Nigeria’s political sphere was embellished with several military coups, prolific assassinations and unquenchable corruption. One of such coups led to the assassination of the Head of State, Gen. Murtala Ramat Muhammed, his driver, an aide and a provincial governor in 1976. In this episode, Evelyn and Lara explore the events leading to the assassination, motives of the perpetrators and the legacy left behind.

Research Notes

‘76 aims to tell a story about the 1976 coup which led to the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed through a melodrama focusing on the lives of Officer Joseph and his wife Suzy. As the couple found themselves entangled in this historic tragedy, Evelyn and Lara comb through the hybrid narrative to find historical enlightenment amidst the web of greed, betrayal, jealousy and devotion.  Should this have been a 3/4 part series instead of a 2hr film? If you’ve watched the film, what do you think of it?

In the last episode of the season, Evelyn and Lara reflect on the process of making the Once Upon a Naija podcast, their hopes for the future and who they wish they could speak to from Nigeria’s history.

Old people might plant a tree but they may never get to sleep under its shade. What does that mean in light of the recent events in Nigeria? In 10, 20, 50 years' time, will we look back and say the #ENDSARS movement is the beginning of a new age for the country? What story will we tell ourselves about the success of the protests?

In the latest episode, Evelyn and Lara explore these questions.

A movement shaped by police brutality, COVID19, and rugged optimism. Evelyn and Lara break down what happened to the ENDSARS movement in Nigeria one year on. Was it successful? Was a ‘lack of leadership’ an asset or hindrance to the movement? How did the Black Lives Matter protests impact the #ENDSARS movement? Share your thoughts with us.

100 years from now, what does Nigeria look like? What is the Nigeria of your dreams? Join Evelyn and Lara as they muse and meander through the world of possibility. 

What is Nigeria? Many have said that Nigeria is not a real place, it is a geographical expression and that it is easier for a child to fly a spacecraft than answer such a question.

Ranging from sports and foreign enemies to flags and the art of mythmaking, Evelyn and Lara take a stab at trying to uncover what makes Nigeria, Nigeria.

This episode continues in the theme of independence and all the complexities that follow.

We’d love to hear your thoughts.

An inspiration to men and women alike, Chief Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti straddled the different worlds of modernity and tradition in her anti-colonial campaigns and activism for Nigerian women. Evelyn and Lara discuss the impact and legacy of the Lioness of Lisabi in Nigerian politics today.

Did he create his own storms and then got upset when it rained? In this episode, Evelyn and Lara discussed Chief M.K.O. Abiola and how he became a significant figure in Nigeria's history. This is the story of a Nigerian president who never governed, the man who was a symbol of hope but not without controversies.