The Allegory of the Crucifix: How a Yoruba Classic Echoes in Nigeria’s Latest Political Scandal

This article uses the allegory of the late Chief J.F. Odunjo to frame the scandal surrounding President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Adeniyi Adeyemi as a profound national crisis of self-serving power. The core insight is that these figures are not merely accused of corruption, but of a deeper betrayal—capturing state institutions for personal fiefdoms, mirroring a historical pattern of predatory leadership. The practical takeaway is that the scandal is less about individual malfeasance and more a symptom of a systemic capture where official titles are used to legitimize unchecked authority. The unique conclusion is that Nigeria’s current political rot is best understood not through policy failures, but through the timeless allegories of its own cultural wisdom, which predicted this very form of institutional hijacking.