Ortom and his 23 cars’ ‘bonus’, by Dele Sobowale
“As I talk to you, after I left office, vehicles that were given to me legitimately by government, this government went and seized them in a manner that was not befitting” – Former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State Last week, former Governor Donald Duke of Cross River declared that military rule was, in many […]
Maryam Babangida 1948-2009, fourteen years after, By Dele Sobowale
“It matters not how a [woman] dies, but how [she] lives…” – Dr Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784 Johnson left many in teresting statements carved on stones. Among them was the one which startled me at first: “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” The second is the one above. Once you are alive, the only […]
Asiwaju Oluwole Oludaisi Aina of Iresiland, By Dele Sobowale
“When Fortune means to men the most good, she looks upon them with a threatening eye” – William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. Daisi was born to succeed; but, he suffered greatly first. Our paths crossed in North Brewery Limited, Kano, in 1981. I was a young Marketing Manager, who had dared to apply for that position from the […]
Tinubu renewed or delayed hope? By Dele Sobowale
“History does not repeat itself; man does” – Harvard Prof. Barbara Tuchman My heart sank after reading the summary of the 2024 Budget and the promise by the Tinubu government to create a $1 trillion economy in ten years. Now, I am inclined to believe that Nigeria will never become the global economic power we […]
Hamas-Israel war: Remember who started it, By Dele Sobowale
“Wisdom in people consists in the anticipation of consequences” – Norman Cousins, 1915-1990. Approximately five years ago, Lagos Island was in the vice grip of gang wars brought about by disputes over control of various sectors of our Island by unemployed and often violent youths. Several attempts were made by elders to bring about peace […]
FG and wider credibility gap, By Dele Sobowale
“Every government is run by liars; and nothing they say should be believed” – I F Stone, US journalist, 1907-1989. Stone was one of about a dozen columnists I read religiously when I was in the USA. He cured me of the virulent disease of columnists sending their CVs to governments in search of jobs. Nobody […]
