Lanre Ade Basamta

YORÙBÁ'S ETIQUETTES AND VALUES "In Yoruba land, money has never been foremost in Yorùbá value system. In our value system, money is number six.. What are the first five ? The first is làákà’yè, which is the application of ogbón, ìmò òye (knowledge, wisdom, understanding).

This is beyond sad

If you are the man who paid for the food of three soldiers yesterday evening at the restaurant close to Tamando Navy Barracks, Apapa, this message is for you. We were three of us. After eating, we asked for the bill, which was ₦9,600, only for the waitress to tell us that someone had already paid for our food. She said you pointed at us and cleared the bill, then left before we could even see you or say thank you. To be honest, we were surprised and even a bit pained that we didn’t get the chance to appreciate you in person. We don’t know your reasons, we don’t know your story, but what you did meant a lot to us. So wherever you are, we want to say thank you. Thank you for appreciating us. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your support. May God bless you, may He continue to shine light on your path, and may you never lack help when you need it. From three grateful soldiers we appreciate you. 🫡🪖 May Nigeria forever be blessed 🇳🇬

Oh gosh!!!

🇩🇰 The man of the match for Sønderjyske in the Danish Superliga was awarded 55kg of freshly dug potatoes 🤣👏

In this week’s musing, I reflect on career anxiety, growth, and the idea that clarity is not always something you start with. Sometimes, it is something you discover along the way. Read the full piece via the link below linkedin.com/newsletters/ba… #LanreBasamta #BasamtaMusing

There is a quiet pressure many young professionals carry. The pressure to have it all figured out early. The pressure to choose perfectly. The pressure to know exactly where life is going. But what if that pressure is built on the wrong assumption?

Lagosians lined up to watch the departure of family and friends on the BOAC. four-engine airplane from Ikeja Airport in the 50s

Certainly Awọn ti Bajulaiye, Apata, Efon Alaye, Watch Tower etc

Phewww

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I was, unfortunately, in the right ballpark: Qatar Energy just announced they may have to declare Force Majeure on long-term contracts **FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS**. As I wrote, we're deep into worst-case scenario territory.

BREAKING: Iran hit Israel's Haifa refinery.

I’m never not honored by this 🤍

Deji and I need to plan a photo walk but strictly shot on mobile to avoid Lagos photo wahala.

Really sad for the whole world😢

Shot Yaba, Lagos, film style. #shotoniphone

This is probably the most important article of the month: an op-ed by Oman's Foreign Minister, who mediated the talks between the U.S. and Iran, in which he writes that the U.S. "has lost control of its foreign policy" to Israel. He repeats that a deal was possible as an outcome of the talks (something confirmed by the UK's National Security Advisor, who also attended: x.com/i/status/20341…) and that the military strike by the U.S. and Israel was "a shock." Interestingly, given he is one of Iran's neighbors and given that Oman has been struck multiple times by Iran since the war began (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran…), he writes that "Iran’s retaliation against what it claims are American targets on the territory of its neighbours was an inevitable result" of the U.S.-Israeli attack. He describes it as "probably the only rational option available to the Iranian leadership." He says the war "endangers" the region's entire "economic model in which global sport, tourism, aviation and technology were to play an important role." He adds that "if this had not been anticipated by the architects of this war, that was surely a grave miscalculation." But, he adds, the "greatest miscalculation" of all for the U.S. "was allowing itself to be drawn into this war in the first place." In his view this was the doing of "Israel’s leadership" who "persuaded America that Iran had been so weakened by sanctions, internal divisions and the American-Israeli bombings of its nuclear sites last June, that an unconditional surrender would swiftly follow the initial assault and the assassination of the supreme leader." Obviously, this proved completely wrong, and the U.S. is now in a quagmire. He says that, given this, "America’s friends have a responsibility to tell the truth," which is that "there are two parties to this war who have nothing to gain from it," namely "Iran and America." He says that all of the U.S. interests in the region (end to nuclear proliferation, secure energy supply chains, investment opportunities) are "best achieved with Iran at peace." As he writes, "this is an uncomfortable truth to tell, because it involves indicating the extent to which America has lost control of its own foreign policy. But it must be told." He then proposes a couple of paths to get back to the negotiating table, although he recognizes how difficult it would be for Iran "to return to dialogue with an administration that twice switched abruptly from talks to bombing and assassination." That's perhaps the most profound damage Trump did during this entire episode: the complete discrediting of diplomacy. If Iran was taught anything, it is: don't negotiate with the U.S., it's a trap that will literally kill you. The great irony of the man who sold himself as a dealmaker is that he taught the world one thing: don't make deals with my country. Link to the article: economist.com/by-invitation/…

I was going through my dad’s bookshelf when I came across a Yoruba dictionary. The moment I saw it, I could tell it wasn’t a recent one. That’s when I learned that “surname” in Yoruba is orúkọ àpèlé.

Fathers don’t post 50 selfies with their kids every week. They just quietly renew the car insurance at 2 a.m. Skip their own doctor’s appointment so the school fees can be cleared, and still say I’m fine when you ask how work was. That’s the love no one talks about.

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. It has been an honor serving under @POTUS and @DNIGabbard and leading the professionals at NCTC. May God bless America.