Opinion on this matter
Kabiyesi TF and Osagyefo AB, I attempted to explain the rationale for this phenomenon in Politics and Society: An Anecdote on Culture and Environmental Determinism. At first glance, this development is analogous to the "politics of nepotism." My view, however, is that this event is explicable within the context of environmental determinism just like the Kennedys, Bushes, and to some extent the Clintons in the case of the US.
May I add that for those of us in academia, and other professions, it is not uncommon for us wittingly or unwittingly to encourage our children to emulate us–i.e., to become professors, doctors, lawyers/barristers et cetera. Possibly, Osagyefo AB is guilty of this "charge."
Ike Udogu
--Dear SIR Toyin:
I have an interesting message for you from our older son (26-year old Kwadwo) that you saw when you were on our Oregon campus, a few years ago, as a Distinguished Guest Speaker.
In our family, all four of us -- as you know -- very often enjoy USA-AFRICA DIALOGUE, although only Baba A.B. has the exclusive rights to post stuff. Now, my son, has raised a query about your post below: "Sons of power". After earning his degree in Political Science and Spanish, our son sometimes sees himself as a rising star intellectually. The query: "Why did Professor Falola overlook the gender of the two daughters, who also won primaries? He wrote: "Sons of power'. Why not 'Sons and daughters of power'?"
Knowing how philosophical you are, SIR Toyin, I defended you. I told our son that normally, men "slugged" it out politically in Africa in days of yore. So, you did not want to discriminate but to group the winners under that one title: "Sons of power." Or, as we used to read from "Anasi the Spider" tales, maybe you have a different wise Anansi take, as to why Ibori's daughter as well as Okowa's daughter, who also won primaries, came under the one title: "Sons of power"! Was it an oversight or, in your usual philosophical stance, you also saw the two women in "manly" terms? I am trying to defend you before darkness falls for critics from "#Me Too" realm to start labelling you with the "S....." word, as I can bet on my last dime or dollar that, indeed, you are NOT!
Baba Ijebu, my legendary Yoruba Language mentor, would have simply said: "Over to you, SIR Toyin. Defend yourself." Instead, I made the effort, but you may have your own wise Anansi take. So, please help me out, if you are back from South Africa, where you were expected to be dined and wined as a guest of former President Thabo Mbeki, who -- as I have reliably been told -- chauffeured you around by himself, as his Special Guest! As I told a dear South African friend of mine (who saw you and their nation's former President in his long black car being chauffeured by himself), I wished that you had invited me to carry your travel bags in order to come along with you, to South Africa, the one-time Mandela Haven!!
Our Dear Sister, Chancellor's Professor Obioma ("Obi") Nnaemeka of Indiana University
Finally, also my family and I watched, virtually, in awe and with tears of joy (on my part) our own Sister Obioma ("Obi") Nnaemeka --endowed Chancellor's Professor of Indiana University -- in Paris, France (not Russia) serving elegantly as the recent Spring 2022 Commencement Speaker for American University of Paris (AUP), indeed, after she had also received the DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS degree, honorary causa, from the hands of the female President Celeste Schenck of the Paris-based institution. Sister Obi -- as we affectionately call her -- spoke with poise and -- in Baba Ijebu's phraseology -- with "aplomb, timber and power"! Congratulations, our dear Sister and Doctor, Doctor Obioma ("Obi") Nnaemeka! In the words of our beloved Professor Ali A. Mazrui, of blessed memory, you have certainly "joined the highest ranks of the most esteemed academically and intellectually"!
A.B. Assensoh.
---------
Rev. A.B. Assensoh, LL.M., PH.D.,
Co-Book Review Editor, African & Asian Studies Journal,
Professor Emeritus (Indiana University),
Courtesy Professor Emeritus (University of Oregon),
Department of History,
McKenzie Hall (2nd Floor), University of Oregon,
Eugene, OR 97403, U.S.A.
Telephone: (541) 953-7710
Fax: (541) 346-6576
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2022 11:28 PM
To: dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [External] USA Africa Dialogue Series - Sons of powerThis message was sent from a non-IU address. Please exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments from external sources.
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Abacha's son won Kano PDP Guber Primaries.
Lamido's son won Jigawa PDP Guber Ticket.
Elrufai's son won APC Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
Ajimobi's son won APC Ticket to contest Oyo Assembly Seat.
Ibori's daughter won PDP Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State.
Ganduje's son won APC primary election for House of Representatives Dawakin Tofa, Rimin Gado and Tofa.
Okowa's daughter won PDP House of Assembly Primaries.
Akala's son won APC primaries for Ogbomoso Federal Constituency.
Fayose's son won PDP Ekiti Central Federal Constituency .
Yarima's son also won....
Sent from my iPhone
--
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Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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