Political power in Nigeria is often built on alliances, but it is frequently destroyed by ambition and the struggle for supremacy. Across the country, political godfathers and their protégés have repeatedly walked the same path: unity in opposition, victory at the polls, and rupture in power.

Twenty-five years ago, Zaki Terungwa Gwaza Bunde, the clan head of Mbatyav in Shitile, Benue State, woke before dawn because the land was waiting.

“There are some steps I ought to have taken to move the state forward but I dare not because of fear that taking such decisions would affect my victory in 2027. For example, some people who failed examinations and should have been sanctioned one way or the other could not be punished because of second term ambition.”

An opinion analysis by Chukwudi Akadike Since the inauguration of Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State, governance in the State has unfolded under unusually strained political conditions. Much of this tension has been attributed by observers to the continued influence of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. […]

The honour firmly positions Banke Naya as one of the most influential and impactful voices representing African artistry beyond the continent.