Senator Abdullahi Adamu at 80: A life of service, wisdom and grace (2), by Usman Sarki
“Salus populi suprema lex esto” (“The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”), Roman maxim The first part of this series reflected upon the life, character and formative influences that shaped Senator (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu, CON, Turakin Keffi, into one of the foremost public figures of his generation. It suggested that the enduring measure […]
FROM BEGGING TO BANDITRY: Revolt of the almajiris, by Dele Sobowale
“No revolution is the fault of the people but the fault of the government” – Johann Goethe, 1749-1832, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ. A revolution is underway in the Northern states of Nigeria. The downtrodden, constituting 99.9 per cent of the population, hitherto docile beggars, saying “rankadede” to the privileged 0.1 per cent are sick […]
Psychologist for Nwabali? By Patrick Omorodion
An African pidgin proverb says that dog wey go loss no dey hear hunter’s whistle. Meaning anyone who doesn’t listen to advise is liable to get himself or herself into trouble sooner than later. That is what is playing out now with Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali. Initially I thought the death of his father […]
Pains shall end in praise, by Funmi Komolafe
At a time such as this, many of us reflect on events of the year, our areas of success, limitations and shortcomings. Whatever may be the situation, we should give thanks to God for keeping us alive. It is by His Grace and Mercy that we are alive. Anyone who is alive is a candidate for […]
The colour pink, by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
It probably all started with an innocent fondness of former US First Lady Maime Eisenhower for the colour pink. It was said she loved pink so much that she wore it at every opportunity, including a pink gown with 2,000 pink rhinestones for her husband’s inauguration, and he in turn sent her pink flowers every morning. […]
A Beautiful Nonsense: Questions for President Tinubu, by Stephanie Shaakaa
“Are you aware,” I said, “that the President has pardoned some of drug offenders you people sent to prison?”
Tinubu’s Unpardonable Pardons: Folly or Fraud? By Ugoji Egbujo
In exercise of his prerogative powers of mercy, Tinubu pardoned a convicted murderer on death row. He also pardoned drug barons. He pardoned a kidnapper. That power was given to him on trust by the people. In a country ravaged by insecurity, every message from the leader should reflect a ruthless determination to stamp out crime and […]
How Much Land Does A Man Need? Just Enough To Be Buried In: Tribute To Dr Kolade, by Muyiwa Adetiba
About a decade and a half ago, I had worked with Dr Christopher Abiodun Kolade on his memoirs. We met two, three times a week over a stretch to help put his thoughts together, and because of this experience, I can claim to know more about him than many people alive. It was perhaps, one of the […]
Okuama today, by Francis Ewherio
It’s been a while since I wrote on Okuama, but today I have reasons to revisit Okuama. Okuama, you recall, is a village in Ewu (Egwhu) Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State which was levelled and razed by Nigerian Soldiers on March 14, 2024, sequel to the unfortunate killing of 17 officers and […]
Diri’s defection deepens Dickson’s doubts, by Emmanuel Aziken
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has ignited what appears set to become the most combustible political drama the state has seen since the impeachment saga that deposed Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in December 2005. His recent announcement that he is leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stirred shockwaves across Bayelsa’s political landscape and raised profound questions about […]
C-130’s Biafran Touch, by Emeka Obasi
Major Davis Okoroji died with his uncle Major E.O. Amechi Okoro on their way back to Jaji, Kaduna State in 1992. Both officers hailed from Onicha Ezinihitte, in the Mbaise area of Imo State.The C- 130 Hercules military aircraft that was supposed to fly them to Kaduna, crashed shortly after take – off from the Murtala Mohammed […]
Of Trump, peace deals and the day after, by Azu Ishiekwene
US President Donald Trump may be getting ahead of himself with the encouraging signs that, following the ceasefire in Gaza, the world might have another opportunity to end the Middle East crisis, one of the world’s longest-running conflicts. It was a conflict in which Trump took sides with Israel – vetoing resolutions at the UN, supporting […]
Morocco runs riot in the UN trying to stop petitioners, by Owei Lakemfa
The Delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco erupted several times like an active volcano spewing hot lava as petitioners in overwhelming numbers presented their case against it. It was on the Question of Western Sahara. The venue was the United Nations, UN, Special Political and Decolonisation Committee, other-wise known as the Fourth Committee which held Hearings […]
Let’s all defect, now!
EARLIER this week, Tuesday precisely, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ditched his party, and with his entire political machinery, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. He was not the first, and will not be the last. His colleagues of the PDP that had […]
Auntie Beatrice Tribute, by Donu Kogbara
Last week, Mrs Beatrice Awura Oboshie Allua Fisher was laid to rest in Lagos alongside her beloved late husband, Lanre Fisher, an engineer, having passed away at her London residence at the grand old age of 92. Her children, Peter and Annette, are my pals and she was like a second mother to me, an adored auntie […]
Obasanjo and the haunting ghost of his Third Term Agenda, by Olu Fasan
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former military ruler and former civilian president, is a bundle of contradictions. One could write a book on Obasanjo’s strengths, and another on his flaws. Of course, Obasanjo is his own hagiographer. He has written many books on himself, with such self-referential titles as My Command, Not My Will and My Watch. […]
