A Tale of Two Hundeyins: Benjamin & David

A Tale of Two Hundeyins: Benjamin & David

By Citizen Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Two men, one surname, and a country caught between truth and trust. One must stitch a tattered uniform of public confidence; the other tears open the hidden seams of power. Both, in their different callings, mirror Nigeria’s search for dignity in a time when conscience and credibility are at their lowest ebb.

Benjamin Hundeyin — The Force’s New Spokesman

Benjamin Hundeyin, until recently the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, now holds the national brief as the Force PRO. His task is unenviable. He must manage the battered image of the Nigeria Police at a time when public trust has plummeted to historic lows.

Benjamin is not unprepared. He studied English at LASU, earned a master’s in Legal Criminology & Security Psychology from UI, served in UNAMID peacekeeping in Darfur, and trained in civil–military coordination at the ML Agwai Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji. He also belongs to professional bodies like NIPR and CIPM. His career shows competence, but competence alone will not suffice.

For the Nigeria Police, credibility has been eroded not just by the misconduct of rank-and-file officers, but also by the burden of leadership failures at the very top. Benjamin’s voice will constantly be judged against the unpopular image of the Inspector-General of Police and the even heavier shadow of the Commander-in-Chief. His duty is not only to “manage perception” but to rebuild trust through honesty, accountability, and openness. A patriotic PR man does not merely defend his institution—he helps it reform by ensuring truth travels faster than rumour.

David Hundeyin — The Investigative Nemesis

On the other flank stands David Hundeyin, perhaps Nigeria’s most famous investigative journalist today. Founder of West Africa Weekly and winner of the Gatefield Prize for Journalism, he has become a nemesis to the political establishment, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

David, in his own words on X, made a blistering case about Tinubu’s past. He argued that electing a man with unresolved drug-related baggage in U.S. archives put Nigeria at risk of foreign manipulation. He wrote:

> “When one crazy journalist kept shouting that you people are enthroning a drug dealer as president, it wasn’t because the drug dealing in and of itself was the issue. The issue was that someone with that amount of blackmail material sitting in a foreign government’s archives can NEVER act in the sovereign and independent interest of his country… When a country takes itself seriously and has basic self-respect, it doesn’t put foreign intelligence assets into its most powerful seat. But when a country is Nigeria… it makes Bola Tinubu its president. And he promptly starts firing off policies dictated to him by those who are using his criminal records to blackmail him.”

He listed such policies as fuel subsidy removal, which was on fuel and electricity, VAT hikes, carbon tax, and education funding cuts—arguing they reflect “disaster-capitalist owners” rather than sovereign Nigerian priorities.

Now, let me state clearly: the U.S. court records confirm a $460,000 civil forfeiture linked to a drug-trafficking investigation case in which Bola Tinubu’s account was culpable in 1993. Though showing no criminal conviction, the implication and stain of the forfeiture may live with the President for the rest of his life except the right thing is done. The clarification on the case and its perception on the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu matters. Yet, David’s broader point remains: any unresolved stain on a leader’s past creates leverage for foreign interests and undermines sovereignty. That argument deserves sober reflection.

Patriotism as the Common Duty

Difficult as it is to wish success to both men at once—one defending the state, the other interrogating it—the truth is Nigeria needs them both. But we must admonish them equally in the spirit of patriotism.

To Benjamin: Patriotism means telling citizens the truth, even when it embarrasses the institution. Do not whitewash abuses. Show us the reforms, the numbers, the disciplinary actions. Make Nigerians believe again, not by slogans, but by transparency.

To David: Patriotism means precision in exposing power. Facts must be carefully separated from inference, sources disclosed, and remedies offered alongside criticism. Outrage has its place, but only documented truth sustains credibility.

Both Hundeyins are sons of the same country. One wears the badge of the state, the other wields the pen of dissent. Yet both must remember that patriotism is not blind loyalty, nor is it reckless fire. It is love of Motherland expressed in service to her dignity.

Conclusion

Nigeria will not heal by flattery or by fury alone. It will heal when police power is constrained by truth and journalistic power is constrained by proof. That is the narrow road where both Benjamin and David must walk.

May truth prevail in the course of their duty. And may Nigeria, battered but unbroken, be greater for it.

Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.

Email:bolajiakinyemi66@gmail.com
Facebook:Bolaji Akinyemi.
X:Bolaji O Akinyemi
Instagram:bolajioakinyemi
Phone:+2348033041236