“In international politics, power is the ability to impose one’s will, but also the ability to inspire“- Raymond Aron In public discourse across West Africa today, France is often discussed through the lenses of geo-politics, military presence, and colonial memory. Yet, behind these sentiments lies a deeper reality: France is not merely a political or cultural actor; it […]

Usually this headline provides cover for a certain segment of the society whose conditions are so blighted that even the festivities of Christmas and End-of-Year also exclude them. They live in the society but are more in the fringes, sheltered by the statistics of about 232 million people in the land but grossly under-provided for. They hardly […]

From last week continues the narrative on the emergence of Dr Moses Majekodunmi as administrator of Western Nigeria following the declaration of emergency rule. It also highlights the intrigues involved in the emergence of Olu of Warri, as well as the rivalry between NCNC and the Action Group. Olu of Warri Kingdom with the title Ogiame […]

 “There is only one thing more precious than time, and that is who we spend it on”— Leo Christopher. I sat through a discussion involving a few villagers from parts of eastern Kaduna State and western Katsina State in my home town, Zaria,  last week. A respected elder has been ill, and he is the type […]

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  has described the federal government’s decision to impose an immediate nationwide ban on the export of wood and allied products as a timely and strategic boost for Nigeria’s furniture manufacturing sector. Chairperson of the Wood & Wood Products/Furniture Sectoral Group of MAN, Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, said the move signals the […]

Nigeria is like an orphan. A country without heroes.  The political leadership over the    decades have been held in suspicion by a frustrated citizenry whose situation simply gets worse.    The country    does not seem to have heroes that    generations can look up to or, can inspire.     The famous German writer,   Bertolt […]

All judges are politicians whether they know it or not.” Enrique Petracchi, former Chief Justice of Argentina, (2002).

In precolonial Africa, the societal values of honesty, respect and fairness were influenced by shared norms and beliefs which fostered healthy relationships. Everyone cherished the values and no one needed to be threatened with written sanctions in order to keep faith with the norms. Perhaps, the most important factor which aided general acceptance of shared […]

Two bald men fighting over a [toothless] comb.” Reading that Alhaji Turaki and Sule Lamido were fighting over who would be Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to me, was the funniest joke of the year. It sounded like a tragic story of two elderly women laying claim to a baby during the World […]

For 29 days beginning from today, all eyes would be focused on Morocco, the new bride of the Confederation of African Football, CAF and Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, as they host the 30th edition of the African Nations Cup, AFCON. This competition holds every two years and on even number days until 2013 […]