(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 1 November, 2021) Today, November 1, 2021, is the 143rd anniversary of the Jalumi War. Some historians call it the Battle of Ikirun but Jalumi (meaning: plunge into river) is the more popular name for the one-day war that commenced at dawn on Friday, November 1, 1878 and…
“We are Committed to Credible Opinion Polls in Africa” ~ Akinnagbe
Sola Akinnagbe, Group Managing Director of The MRC Group, a seasoned and renowned market research, marketing operations and statistical experts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with over 30 years’ experience in the delivery of world class solutions for blue chip clients. He co-founded the company in 1995 after one of the most brilliant professional careers in…
Gunmen at Oyo Prison
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 25 October, 2021) I read Camara Laye’s ‘A Dream of Africa’ in secondary school. I still see the sky-high gate of his walled Africa; the murderous giants and guards; the cowering captives, terrorized and traumatized in their condemned prisoners’ cells. I remember the homicidal, militant ‘nationalists’ and the…
A Critique of Hakeem Baba-Ahmed’s ‘Rejoinder’
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 11 October, 2021) Abdulrazak Gurnah, the Tanzanian who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last week has a very interesting definition of honour. He says it means “respect yourself (so that) others will come to respect you.” That is from his ‘Paradise’ – a ‘narrative reversal’ of Joseph…
Igbo, Akunyili and Mailafia
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 4 October, 2021) Igboland is the new home of Hades, lord of death and king of the underworld. The land writhes in pains as rough men roast it for supper. Vultures have descended on its forests; hawks feed on its cities. Every dove there is in fearful flight.…
2023: For Hakeem Baba-Ahmed
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 27 September, 2021) Alhaji Baba Ahmed, a Mauritanian cow seller, plied his trade from his country to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and to Dahomey (now Benin Republic). Business was very good but at a point, his customers in Dahomey, with impunity, refused to pay for his cows.…
Debts, VAT and States’ Gold Mines
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 20 September, 2021) The National Assembly last Tuesday received a presidential request for yet fresh foreign loans. This time, it is $4billion and €710million (N2 Trillion) to finance ‘critical projects’ in the 2021 budget. Our lawmakers will approve the loan request without asking any question. It is not…
Igbo and Buhari’s Peace Speech in Imo State
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 13 September, 2021) President Muhammadu Buhari last week in Imo State acknowledged the resourcefulness and enterprising spirit of Igbo people. He said: “The fundamental thing about the Igbo people is that there is no town you visit in Nigeria without seeing the Igbo being in charge of either…
FIRS & Rivers State Government: Who should Now Collect VAT?
The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, has just ruled that both parties maintained the status quo in an appeal filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, validating the Rivers State law that empowered Rivers State Government to collect VAT, as against the FIRS that…
I Am Still Pained Awolowo Did Not Take Western Region Out of Nigeria – Idahosa
Ahead of his 68th birthday on September 21, 2021, Charles Ekhoeutownen Idahosa, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State and former political adviser to immediate past governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, hosted a media parley at his Airport Road residence where he bared his mind on burning national issues. Adekunbi…
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