On 29th May 2023, Nigeria got itself a new president, and let’s just say he wasted no time before shaking things up. First move? Slash the fuel subsidy like he’s putting the whole country on a surprise diet—no warm-up, just “boom, no more discounts!” Since then, Nigerians have been faced with skyrocketing fuel prices, inflation that feels like a bad movie sequel, and then, a nationwide protest in 2024 where the people poured into the streets to say, “Oga, this isn’t working!” Join Evelyn and Lara on this episode as the share their reflections of President Bola-Ahmed Tinubu’s first year—the wins, the stumbles, and those eyebrow-raising, headline-making moments. From the nationwide protests to promises on paper, is he the leader Nigerians have been waiting for or just another guy with big ideas and an even bigger mess?

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Enjoy the episode

After a long hiatus, Lara and Evelyn are back. We've missed you just as much as you've missed us. That's why on this episode, we let you in on some of the things we've been up to while we've been away and a glimpse into the exciting episodes we have coming up.

Enjoy our welcome back episode :)

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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.

Another aspect of the BVAS is that it uploads (supposedly) vote results directly to the Inec results portal for all to see, which in theory means results cannot be tampered with".

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You can find links to some further reading and information about this episode's topic in the show notes:

• https://www.stears.co/premium/article/why-was-voter-turnout-in-the-2023-general-elections-so-low/
• https://republic.com.ng/february-march-2023/2023-election-updates/
• https://republic.com.ng/february-march-2023/youth-participation-nigeria-elections/
• www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64187170.amp

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!

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Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija.

Would you like to collaborate with us or just send some encouragement? Email us at onceuponanaija@gmail.com.

You can find links to some further reading and information about this episode's topic in the show notes:

• https://www.stears.co/premium/article/stears-poll-predicts-nigerias-next-president/
• https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/2/14/analysis-nigerias-2023-polls-bears-the-scars-of-its-1993-tk
• https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/575885-analysis-2023-nigerias-most-consequential-year-since-1999.html
• https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/580432-peter-obi-an-opportunist-wont-deliver-nigeria-seun-kuti.html

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

Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast.

Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija.

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You can find links to some further reading and information about this episode's topic in the show notes:

• https://www.obidatticampaign.com/
• https://businessday.ng/news/article/peter-obi-releases-7-point-manifesto-to-tackle-insecurity-restructure-nigeria/
• https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/breaking-peter-obi-distances-self-from-lp-manifesto-in-circulation/
• https://labourparty.com.ng/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_(Nigeria)
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58780561
• https://republic.com.ng/nigeria/obidience-or-sacrifice/
• https://financialquest.com.ng/what-you-need-to-know-about-mr-peter-obi-for-governor-of-anambra-state/
• https://businesselitesafrica.com/2022/06/24/7-transformative-projects-of-peter-obi-in-anambra-state/
• https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/487997-pandora-papers-inside-peter-obis-secret-businesses-and-how-he-broke-the-law.html

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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!

Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast.

Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija.

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You can find links to some further reading and information about this episode's topic in the show notes:

• https://www.bolatinubu.com/
• https://www.bolatinubu.com/manifesto/renewed_hope-2023.pdf
• https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/06/tinubu-and-the-certificate-scandal-that-refuses-to-die/
• https://westafricaweekly.substack.com/p/bola-ahmed-tinubu-from-drug-lord
• https://tryflok.com/contents/fe038dfd-a18a-4378-8f72-593cb62e4240/view
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_IeAGgKJKA
• https://westafricaweekly.substack.com/p/has-bola-ahmed-tinubu-committed-perjury
• https://republic.com.ng/august-september-2022/bola-ahmed-tinubu/
• https://www.thecable.ng/leadership-and-tinubus-excellent-footprints-in-lagos
• https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/how-bola-tinubus-achievement-as-lagos-governor-may-take-him-to-aso-rock-in-2023/

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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. 

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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.

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Shownotes:

• 9 PROMOTED: Behold the 62 failed 2015 election campaign promises of Muhammadu Buhari and APC - https://www.thecable.ng/promoted-behold-the-62-failed-2015-election-campaign-promises-of-muhammadu-buhari-and-apc
• What Buhari promised Nigerians - https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/what-buhari-promised-nigerians/
• Has Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari honoured his promises? - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/2/12/has-nigerias-president-muhammadu-buhari-honoured-his-promises
• IPC compiles list of President Buhari’s campaign promises for stakeholders to measure progress - https://ifex.org/ipc-compiles-list-of-president-buharis-campaign-promises-for-stakeholders-to-measure-progress/
• EDITORIAL: President Buhari’s scattergun approach to national security -
  
  https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/558804-editorial-president-buharis-scattergun-approach-to-national-security.html
• Campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari. - https://www.ipcng.org/2019/06/20/ipc-releases-documented-campaign-promises-of-president-muhammadu-buhari-as-the-presidential-candidate-of-the-all-progressives-congress-apc-in-the-2019-general-elections/

Death, ready to take the lives of millions of Nigerians, came knocking when Patrick Sawyer from Liberia arrived at Murtala Muhammed airport on 20 July 2014. 12 days earlier, he had been in contact with the corpse of his sister who died from the Ebola virus - an act which spells death. In this 2in1 episode, Evelyn and Lara reviewed the film '93 Days' before deep diving into the events that unfolded following Patrick's arrival in the megacity of Lagos and the race against time to contain what could have been the deadliest disease outbreak the world has ever known. Without the swift and rugged response of Dr Stella Adadevoh, Lead Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist, and other health workers at First Consultants Medical Centre, Lagos, our minds can only begin to imagine the disaster that could have ensued in Nigeria and beyond. This episode is dedicated to the 8 lives lost in the race. Did Sawyer know he had Ebola before arriving on Nigeria's soil? Did he deliberately seek to infect others? Let us know what you think. We forgot to mention in this episode that Dr Stella Adadevoh was the great granddaughter of Sir Herbert Macaulay - listen to episode 9. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, like and follow us for notification when we release a new episode. Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast. Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija. Would you like to collaborate with us or just send some encouragement? Email us at onceuponanaija@gmail.com. #ebola #nigerianpodcast #podcastinnigeria #nigerianheroes #stellaadadevoh

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.

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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:

http://www.theheroinecollective.com/nwanyeruwa-the-womens-revolt-against-british-colonialism/

https://www.ictd.ac/blog/informal-taxation-nigeria-significance-benefits-challenges/

https://qz.com/africa/1889847/how-nigerias-igbo-women-influenced-british-colonial-rule/

https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/teaching-resources-for-historians/teaching-and-learning-in-the-digital-age/through-the-lens-of-history-biafra-nigeria-the-west-and-the-world/the-colonial-and-pre-colonial-eras-in-nigeria/the-womens-market-rebellion-of-1929

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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.

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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

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakubu_Gowon
• http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/25.htm
• http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/70.htm
• https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/221658-exclusive-inside-americas-damning-verdict-murtala-muhammed-obasanjo-1975-coup.html
• https://www.thehistoryville.com/murtala-muhammed-interesting-facts/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-46783600

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‘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?

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The Biafran War is a moment in Nigeria's history many of our parents are too scarred to discuss and the Nigerian government prefer to forget. In this episode, Lara and Evelyn shine the light on this life defining event which claimed the lives of millions of Igbo people as they fought for their independence mainly with knives and cutlasses. It is generally believed that hunger killed more Biafrans than bullets and bombs. Listen as we explore the reasons, impact and legacy of the Biafran War. Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast. Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija. Would you like to collaborate with us or just send some encouragement? Email us at onceuponanaija@gmail.com.

on this episode, we review the film Half of a Yellow Sun by the incredible Chimamanda Adichie. As the lives of the main characters are torn apart by the tumultuous history being made around them, we delve into the entanglement of love, politics and general chaos that follows in a story set during the Nigerian Civil War. Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast. Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija. Would you like to collaborate with us or just send some encouragement? Email us at onceuponanaija@gmail.com.

On this episode, we dive deeper into the life of Queen Amina of Zaria following our review of the film 'Amina' in previous episode. What are the facts? What are the myths? Was Queen Amina really a black widow or was she just unlucky in love? Find out much more on this episode and let us know what you think. Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast. Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija. Would you like to collaborate with us or just send some encouragement? Email us at onceuponanaija@gmail.com

How well does the film 'Amina' tell the story of the legend that is Queen Amina of Zaria? Do the performances capture the magnitude of the events unfolding? On this episode, Lara and Evelyn delve into the nooks and crannies of the film to share their honest opinions. Have you watched Amina? If not, check it out on Netflix and let us know what you think. Be sure to check us out on Spotify, YouTube, Apple podcasts and wherever you get your podcast. Follow us on Instagram @onceuponanaija. Would you like to collaborate with us or just send some encouragement? Email us at onceuponanaija@gmail.com.

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.

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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.

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#onceuponanaija #naija #nigeria #nigerian #history #historyville #podcast #education #westafrica #africa #postcolonialism #politics #geopgraphy #africanpolitics #throwbackthursday #covid19 #pandemic # #blm #blacklivesmatter #BHM #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #davido #leadership #lekkitollgatemassacre #lekkimassacre #lekkitollgate #protest #ushistory #policebrutality #ENDSARS ENDSARSNOW