Nigerian investigative journalist and author, David Hundeyin has taken to his social media to call out Nigerians for not being ready for better governance. The Journalist on his X account bluntly stated that it was a good thing that Obi didn’t ascend the presidential seat in 2023 because Nigerians are “clearly not ready to get past” what he calls “my individual stomach” syndrome. This giant roadblock, according to the author, was what led to the hitch in former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GEJ’s regime. Hundeyin also asserted that the country hasn’t outgrown the “my individual stomach” politics in “10 whole years.”
Being who he is, netizens trooped to his comment section to pour out their heart. Many supported his view and buttressed more on it. A user by the name @ebitu commented: “Nigeria’s biggest challenge isn’t just leadership but it’s also the mindset of our people.” The X user also added that “if Obi had won” the presidential poll of 2023, it would have been a GEJ scenario, a well-meaning leader sabotaged by a nation still stuck in what’s in it for me politics. “ HE wrapped up his comment by asserting that growth requires more than just a new face in power, that a shift in mentality was of utmost importance, to which he noted that the country wasn’t yet ready.
While other netizens called out @Ebitu for saying that Obi didn’t win the 2023 polls, others debunked the assertion about GEJ being the yardstick for good governance. Other groups countered Hundeyin, noting that Nigerians were ready, but alleged that INEC played a fast one on voters. Meanwhile, some others held a different view. A user commented: “Una don dey cook another agenda, GEJ for 2027? Even at that is another GEJ not better than what we have had in the last 10 years? “
David Hundeyin has always been known for his controversial investigations reports, and being outspoken in relation to any government seat. It has also affected his career both positive and negative. Due to his participation in the ENDSARS protest of 2020 and his subsequent investigation and reports, he received several threats that prompted him to flee the country. In 2022, he was granted asylum in Ghana as a refugee.
Also, the writer and founder of the West Africa Weekly Newsletter is well known for publishing controversial reports in his career. In 2023, he published the Guinea passport of the then Nigerian President-Elect, PBAT on X. This raised different reactions on Tinubu’s eligibility as the country’s president.
Further, David Hundeyin has proven himself exceptional in his career. The writer won the People’s Journalism Price for Africa in 2020. He also won the GRC and Anti-Financial Crime Reporter of the Year in 2021.
Finally, like most exceptional and controversial journalists, Hundeyin has also paid the price for his excellence. Aside from receiving threats, he was detained in August 2023 while on his way to the Africa Liberty Forum in Zimbabwe at the Harare Airport for almost seven hours.
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