(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 27 March, 2023) “The ides of March are come,” Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar says in utter derision and dismissal of a life-and-death warning. And the soothsayer replies “Ay, Caesar; but not gone.” And truly, they were not gone. The 2023 elections should be over by now but they are…
Peter Obi and his Enemies
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 17 October, 2022) Peter Obi’s enemies are very clever and audacious. They are determined to ruin him and the promise of his movement. Imagine, they appointed for him a certain Mr. John Ezeigbe Ughulu as his campaign coordinator for Lagos State. Lagos is a Yoruba state in the…
Abdulsalami: A Soldier of Democracy, Peace and Unity
From Atiku Abubakar It’s impossible to meet General Abdulsalami Abubakar without being inspired by his warmth and humility. He is one of the greatest Nigerian leaders that I have ever known. His patriotism, depth of knowledge and wisdom are some of his endearing virtues. You can’t spend a moment with Abdulsalami Abubakar without learning something…
Placing“Placeholders” Placeless
The APC political contraption never ceases to amaze and confound me. It intrigues me to no end. This is a party (is it really one, going by the text book definition of a politcal party in Political Science?) that rose from its often predicted imminent disintegration into smithereens, like a phoenix from its ashes, in…
BRF: The Omoluabi Eko At 59
From Hakeem Bello “What will protect all of us when all is said and done is law and order.” If there is a quiz to guess which Nigerian public servant said the above, chances are most will answer: Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF). Yes, of course. The quintessential lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is…
Supreme Court Justices Deserve More
Recently, in an unprecedented manner in the 58 years annals of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, all the 14 serving Justices of the Supreme Court protested their horrific welfare and deplorable conditions of service to the Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN ). In a world that has since become a global village, the memo…
2023: Will PDP Reward Disloyalty?
From Obotu Otse Among the major determinants of who gets the ticket of a political party, electability, competence, financial standing, integrity and loyalty, rank very high. Though not exhaustive, to the party faithful, the factor of loyalty is considered as paramount. There are many reasons for this: first, it is loyalty that determines fidelity with…
Revisiting Nigeria’s Political Trajectory
By Abiodun Komolafe The political formation which eventually secured Nigeria’s independence, was powered by the ideals of independence, and the expectation of Nigerians was that the country’s domestic affairs would be wholesome. However, immediately the independence issue got sorted, her internal socio-political contradictions and gray public administration dynamics became manifest. To put it mildly, things…
The North’s Tadpoles and Deborah Yakubu
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 16 May, 2022) A Sokoto mob on Saturday violently protested against justice for Deborah Yakubu who was murdered by her schoolmates in broad daylight. They wanted her suspected killers released without trial. The mob thought the state did not owe the murdered that duty of care, even in…
2023: Remembering Obafemi Awolowo
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 9 May, 2022) Today is the 35th anniversary of the transition of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. A sage is “a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.” A sage is also he that is “venerated for the possession of wisdom, possession of judgment and of experience.”…
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