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Against the Run of Play: How an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria
Against the Run of Play takes an intense look at Nigerian politics at a time when an entrenched political party was defeated in a presidential election after 16 unbroken years in power. This book offers the reader a narrative explanation and an unusual insight into the major human and institutional factors that led up to the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 12, 2017
A Summary
This book summarizes events leading up to and around the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria. Because of their recent occurrence, avid followers of political affairs would find the book a good 'revision exercise'. I like that Mr. Adeniyi has provided us such a repository. The writing is simple and straightforward.
This book summarizes events leading up to and around the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria. Because of their recent occurrence, avid followers of political affairs would find the book a good 'revision exercise'. I like that Mr. Adeniyi has provided us such a repository. The writing is simple and straightforward.
January 19, 2018
Segun Adeniyi is one of the best chroniclers of contemporary Nigerian politics, and seems to have access to just about everyone. A very worthwhile read.
March 14, 2019
From the Forward till the end, its a captivating read. After reading this, I felt like I was there where it all happened. I started having conversations with hardcore newspaper readers and steal the spotlight of the most informed. Jonathan did mistakes, this book records it. After this book, try to read My Transition Hours.
April 10, 2021
Such an insightful book, it's amazing how I lived through the times described in this book yet little was known about the inner workings that brought about the despicable Buhari's administration into power.
In retrospect, can we say Nigerians made the right decision? It was indeed a case of between the devil and the deep blue sea.
In retrospect, can we say Nigerians made the right decision? It was indeed a case of between the devil and the deep blue sea.
May 9, 2017
Interesting
Easy to read but would have been better if he interviewed more people. Will be nice to get another side.
Easy to read but would have been better if he interviewed more people. Will be nice to get another side.
April 20, 2019
Insightful
January 19, 2023
2015 elections and the transition period if you want to see the movie played on your mind.
This is a read you'll want not to miss.
This is a read you'll want not to miss.
November 12, 2023
While we await GEj's and Amaechi memoirs, this serves as the hottest rendition of events from a very touchy history of Nigeria.
Mazel Tov Adeniyi
Mazel Tov Adeniyi
June 13, 2020
I have never been more interested in observing and analyzing Nigerian Politics than now after reading.
May 3, 2017
There are so many lessons to learn from this book... From understanding the importance of having a harmonious home to the importance of not picking fights or enemies based on hearsay and so much more... God bless Olusegun Adeniyi for writing this informative piece (I believe it will really go a long way in enlightening the populace on the cards played in Nigeria's political milieu).
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January 22, 2018AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY: A HISTORY BOOK OF THE NIGERIAN POLITICS by OKOLI UGOCHI
The 2015 Nigerian presidential election was indeed one of the most controversial presidential elections in Nigeria and just like the 2016 US election, the outcome was highly unprecedented. It called to question the correctness of the saying ‘Never underestimate the power of the incumbent’.
Against the Run of Play lays out in the smartest of ways the dramatic, intellectually exhausting yet interesting experience that is the Nigerian politics. It points out the undeniable conflicts and negative effects of Tribalism and Religious politics among the country’s politicians and by extension, her voters. The first few chapters of the book exposes one of the major problems of Nigeria-Division, an issue that has been deeply infused into her political system, so deep that the deciding factors of a role as enormous as the President of the country are tribe, religion and partisan politics instead of qualification, dependability, and capability deserving of such position.
Segun Adeniyi, through his book answers the questions that were in the minds and lips of many Nigerians after the 2015 presidential election, of which one of them was- How did Muhammadu Buhari defeat Goodluck Jonathan, ‘a sitting President’? From this well-researched and original history book, one could deduce the fact that amongst many other reasons why Goodluck Jonathan lost, the outcomes of the March 2015 election had already been planned out in May 2011. With these flawed and crafty processes in which most Nigerian leaders take up power in Nigeria, It is no wonder if the 2019 election has already been decided on.
Furthermore, Against the Run of Play reveals some of the reasons why Nigeria has made little progress under past and present leaders. What do we expect of a country that elects its leaders through a political system that is built on DIVISION in the guise of ‘zoning policy’? What do we expect from a building with a weak foundation? When turbulence as huge as the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua hit, everything came crashing down. Perhaps we would have had better leaders in the government if they were considered appropriately, and put through rigorous debates and discussions on policies and solutions to issues prevalent in the country. Perhaps Nigeria would have been competing with some first world countries economically and otherwise if we weren’t so busy battling divisive forces.
In 12 Chapters and 22 Pages, Segun writes not only from his perspective but from the views of the Key Players in the Nigerian Political scene, this not only speaks to the originality of the book but also to the dependability of the information contained in it.
Much was however left unsaid about the Buhari administration. Adeniyi created a very descriptive picture of the Jonathan administration but failed to mention most of the troubling issues and drama in the present administration that can very well be likened to an award winning Soap Opera.
It was indeed an interesting read and is definitely a book every Nigerian interested in understanding the inner workings of the Nigerian government should read.
by Okoli Ugochi
The 2015 Nigerian presidential election was indeed one of the most controversial presidential elections in Nigeria and just like the 2016 US election, the outcome was highly unprecedented. It called to question the correctness of the saying ‘Never underestimate the power of the incumbent’.
Against the Run of Play lays out in the smartest of ways the dramatic, intellectually exhausting yet interesting experience that is the Nigerian politics. It points out the undeniable conflicts and negative effects of Tribalism and Religious politics among the country’s politicians and by extension, her voters. The first few chapters of the book exposes one of the major problems of Nigeria-Division, an issue that has been deeply infused into her political system, so deep that the deciding factors of a role as enormous as the President of the country are tribe, religion and partisan politics instead of qualification, dependability, and capability deserving of such position.
Segun Adeniyi, through his book answers the questions that were in the minds and lips of many Nigerians after the 2015 presidential election, of which one of them was- How did Muhammadu Buhari defeat Goodluck Jonathan, ‘a sitting President’? From this well-researched and original history book, one could deduce the fact that amongst many other reasons why Goodluck Jonathan lost, the outcomes of the March 2015 election had already been planned out in May 2011. With these flawed and crafty processes in which most Nigerian leaders take up power in Nigeria, It is no wonder if the 2019 election has already been decided on.
Furthermore, Against the Run of Play reveals some of the reasons why Nigeria has made little progress under past and present leaders. What do we expect of a country that elects its leaders through a political system that is built on DIVISION in the guise of ‘zoning policy’? What do we expect from a building with a weak foundation? When turbulence as huge as the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua hit, everything came crashing down. Perhaps we would have had better leaders in the government if they were considered appropriately, and put through rigorous debates and discussions on policies and solutions to issues prevalent in the country. Perhaps Nigeria would have been competing with some first world countries economically and otherwise if we weren’t so busy battling divisive forces.
In 12 Chapters and 22 Pages, Segun writes not only from his perspective but from the views of the Key Players in the Nigerian Political scene, this not only speaks to the originality of the book but also to the dependability of the information contained in it.
Much was however left unsaid about the Buhari administration. Adeniyi created a very descriptive picture of the Jonathan administration but failed to mention most of the troubling issues and drama in the present administration that can very well be likened to an award winning Soap Opera.
It was indeed an interesting read and is definitely a book every Nigerian interested in understanding the inner workings of the Nigerian government should read.
by Okoli Ugochi
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews