Re: Dan Bello – leaving the message, mutilating the messenger? By Prof M. K. Othman

Re: Dan Bello – leaving the message, mutilating the messenger?

Dan Bello, Dan Bello, Dan Bello- this name I called three times has become very frightening to those with skeletons in their cupboards. Very soon, Dan Bello will be an invisible, powerful force lurking in government houses and the offices of political office holders, with the occupants barking at the subordinates and contractors, “Do it correctly because Dan Bello is watching.” The assertion results from a confessed top government functionary who read my article and commented, “When Dan Bello did that clip for our governor, Oga was furiously fuming, looking very sad, and why did this boy, Dan Bello, do this to me? We must clip his wings, gather ourselves in a secret location for two days brainstorming to counter the ‘terrible allegation’ against Oga. Ultimately, we could not bring tangible evidence to counter the allegation, so we left it to die down.”
One can imagine a one-minute video clip disrupting a two-day job in a government house without a satisfactory solution. Is this man, Dan Bello, more powerful than all our votes? Is he the savior trying to end bad governance? My take: Our governors and other political leaders are not as bad as we think. They are not conscienceless people. They may desire to leave a good legacy, like our nationalists who struggled for the nation’s independence. Still, they are overwhelmed by our artificial challenges due to our behavioral attitudes and surrounded by courtiers who only say what their Ogas want to hear.
Based on their reactions, my readers welcomed my piece on Dan Bello. Except for one response, I am still looking for an adverse reaction without success. Therefore, I am sharing the reactions while covering some names to avoid adverse effects on the commentators. Happy reading

With US citizenship and residency in China, Dan Bello is immune to political harassment and persecution.
Prof Ahmed Bello

Prof, you can become Dan Othman to complement what Dan Bello is doing, as more of you are needed. Although I am not against your opinion, only those who criticize others must be careful in their actions (mai Dakar barci bai kamata yayi gyangyadi ba). No one is perfect, but diligence and critical thinking can help avoid silly mistakes that can damage established institutions.
Bissalam
Engr Habib Imam

Very educational, informative, and captivating. Well done, sir and keep the flag flying.
Umar Aliyu

Very informative public enlightenment and contemporary media orientation
Ibrahim Suleiman

Very impressive message sir… Keep it up the sky is your starting point inshallah..

May your pen never dry.
Yuusuf Abduulahu kakale

For the first time, sir, I am not impressed with your write-up. For the sake of respect, I will not comment further. If God spares our lives, everyone will see an example of why Allah SWT said, ‘Wala tajassasu’.
Anonymous

I wish he would shine a spotlight on the EFCC and ICPC so that Nigerians know they are wasting their time waiting for these agencies to rescue us and Nigeria.
Prof Gambo Bala

Indeed, Dan Bello’s skits are more than a comedy. They frightened the heavyweight politicians much more because he educated the majority.
Anonymous

Prof. M. K. Othman has provided an insightful reflection on the impact of Dan Bello’s bold, satirical journalism—a blend of humor and brutal truth packed into punchy, minute-long videos. While I commend Prof. Othman’s balanced tone and nuanced critique, a few key points deserve further reflection.
First, we must recognize Dan Bello’s unique power, not as a politician, cleric, or traditional journalist, but as a digital crusader armed with creativity and conscience. His style may be unorthodox, but his approach is refreshingly disruptive in a nation battling selective outrage and moral compromise.
His recent foray into the sacred space of clerical integrity has sparked controversy. Yet, the questions he raises — particularly about alleged contracts awarded to Mallam Bala Lau and JIBWIS — are not just for social media speculation but for institutional audit. If transparency is a universal value, then no individual or institution should be above scrutiny, especially when public funds are involved.
Prof. Othman is right to caution against generalizing the alleged failings of one cleric to the entire religious establishment. However, that point strengthens Dan Bello’s case — if we don’t want the whole body of clerics maligned, then let those accused respond with facts, not fury. Silence and smear campaigns only deepen public suspicion.
Moreover, the professor raises a crucial moral dilemma: Can clerics serve as contractors and spiritual guides? That question may be uncomfortable, but it deserves an honest, national debate. Are religious figures to remain untainted by politics and business, or do we acknowledge a hybrid role and demand transparency within it?
Dan Bello’s message is not flawless — like all forms of journalism, it requires responsibility, fairness, and depth. But dismissing the messenger because the message stings is the antithesis of progress. Our society has long tiptoed around the powerful. Perhaps it’s time we welcomed uncomfortable truths, whether in tweets, TikToks, or televised sermons.
This isn’t just about Dan Bello, clerics, or contracts. It’s about conscience. Nigeria’s future depends on who leads us and who dares to speak when others choose silence. Let us interrogate the message, not mutilate the messenger.
Anonymous

The article has answered the research question. The issues raised are vital for Dan Bello, those implicated (political leaders and leaders of thought), and Nigerians to address. You have done your best.
Prof Yusuf Abdullahi