{
  "id": 6262150,
  "title": "Oseni, Olayinka And The Gbewudani Metaphor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/oseni-olayinka-and-the-gbewudani-metaphor",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T09:30:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/08/oseni-olayinka-and-the-gbewudani-metaphor/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigerian politicians are notorious for their contradictory statements and assumptions that their constituents are too unintelligent to decipher the hidden meanings in their rhetoric. A recent example of this behavior was displayed in a live television debate over the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The interview, conducted by the Arise Morning Show, featured Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, who vehemently rejected questions posed to him by one of the interviewers. Olayinka accused the interviewer of using derogatory language, specifically the Yoruba term \"gbewudani,\" which he deemed unsuitable for polite discourse. The term \"gbewudani\" in Yoruba culture is a derogatory description for someone who is excessively compliant, often seen as a lackey or puppet, especially in a domestic setting. However, the term has evolved and is now frequently used in political discussions to describe someone who is too subservient to their superiors, often at the expense of their own independence and authority. In a 2020 study, Rotimi Gbenga Akinyede and Adetokunbo Ogunmola analyzed the contemporary usage of \"gbewudani\" in political discourse, concluding that it generally implies a lackey or subordinate figure who exercises less independence than their position would suggest. This metaphor accurately reflects the situation surrounding Senator Sandy Onor, the presidential candidate of the PDP. Despite the PDP's fielding of a candidate, Senator Onor, Wike, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, maintains his support for President Bola Tinubu, even though he is part of a faction of the PDP that backs Senator Onor. Wike's role in the PDP is significant as he is often referred to as the power behind the throne, having played a crucial role in the party's leadership and direction. The fact that Wike was unable to disassociate himself from the emergence of Senator Onor, who he endorsed, adds to the complexity of the situation. The use of \"gbewudani\" by Olayinka highlights the challenges faced by Nigerians in discerning the true intentions of their politicians. The term serves as a reminder that politicians often use loaded language to manipulate public perception and obscure their true motives.",
  "summary": "By Niran Adedokun Amongst many others, two things sicken me about Nigerian politicians. The first is their capacity to approbate and reprobate. You know that inclination to blow hot and",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}