Why Benson Okoronkwo at 70 Agrees with Fela’s ‘Authority Stealing’
Benson Okoronkwo has remained an unelected but permanent parliamentarian, historian and provocateur in the Nigerian-American Diaspora. Chido Nwangwu writes on how Okoronkwo agrees with late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s indictment of Nigerian rulers/leaders for criminally using their “authority” to steal, pillage and destroy the resourceful country of Nigeria.
Inspirational music and messages usually travel across generations, cultures and climes.
I think that the cascading toll of insecurity, kidnappings and escalating poverty have since combined with Nigeria’s peripatetic leadership to give its citizens this shameful agony, wickedness and corruption-madness, which the great, late music and political genius, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, characterized as “Authority Stealing”!
There are millions of Nigerians at the “home country” and thousands of Nigerians in the diaspora who agree with this critical assessment.
One of those is Benson Okoronkwo. Although he looks half his age, I consider him a man for all seasons. He continues to adapt to the dynamics of change even as he insists on “the ways things used to be done.”
He’s remained, commendably, an unelected but permanent parliamentarian, historian and provocateur extraordinaire. He’s led and served for many decades as an unappointed adviser on constitutional matters to the founding fathers, women of substance, and the young people in many cities and communities with diaspora Nigerians.
He’s consistently been contributing towards advancing democratic rights. He’s remained progressive, animated by rousing declarations, critical invocations and cogent reminders of what must remain important in the unfolding twists of life and all manner of things! Let me note that it has been decades of criminal assault on the pauperized wallets and traumatized souls and senses of Nigerians and millions of other Africans.
Without a doubt, we continue to witness the very expensive and dangerous living for the overwhelming majority of Nigerians.
Benson continues to mentor a younger generation of Nigerians to take over the leadership of the purpose-challenged community and national organizations.
As you turn 70, Thank You — especially— for the many other acts of fraternal kindness and focus on the national interest.
He has this wonderful gift of bonhomie.
I commend your very affable and grace-filled wife, Augusta! Your son, the NFL star, Ogbo (The African Hurricane) and their siblings.
Finally, may God refresh your wisdom and renew your strength as you step forth into the seasoned and remarkable 70 years on July 20, 2026.
Let me add that he’s not the typical Nigerian activist and community leader who speaks from three sides of his mouth!
-Dr. Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, established USAfrica multimedia networks in 1993 in Houston.
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