We summon God at the start with bowed heads and trembling voices, promising peace, order. Then, within minutes, we descend into chaos

Last September, I travelled far into the hinterland of Benue State from Abuja by road for the burial of Chief Audu Ogbeh. It was a journey which took us over ten hours of barely passable roads through several settlements and domains – Tiv, Idoma and yes, Igbo. Although we went in a fortified convoy like […]

One of the most astonishing acts of political absurdity in recent Nigerian politics is the report that the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State produced only one set of nomination forms for the now–disputed national convention scheduled for Ibadan today. By this […]

These are indeed trying times when we must stay away from the usual local propaganda that will only harden the minds of those who should mean well for all of us. American president Donald Trump is on the same page with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The big deal here is insecurity. Indeed Nigeria is under siege. […]

In some kingdoms in Nigeria, when a traditional ruler joins his ancestors, succession can be very messy. But in Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, succession is crisis-free and seamless. This is not because the Olomu kingdom Kingship is hereditary. No, in fact, there are three ruling houses in Olomu Kingdom. The traditional ruler, […]

By Segun Odegbami I am writing the first part of this article one and a half hours before Nigeria takes on Gabon in a make-or-break football encounter that will determine the fate of the Super Eagles in their quest to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is the first in a series of 3 huge ‘mountains’ […]

If the name of the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), its secretary, or convention date were the subject of a quiz, there would not be a correct answer because answers don’t exist. The best attempt would be an open-ended response: It depends. It either depends on who has the latest favourable court ruling or who […]

A very dangerous situation has arisen in the world with the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, on October 31, 2025  deciding  illegally, to reverse a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA. This has not caught world attention. It has not hit internal headlines  because there is a universal  complicity. Almost all countries are afraid of […]

SEVERAL months ago, the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, announced a bid to ban sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in satchets. The bid did not fly at the time, mainly as a result of pushbacks from vested interests, including manufacturers and distributors of the products. Product packaging in satchets gained traction in Nigeria […]

There’s hardly any Nigerian who will disagree with the idea of acting in the national interest. Indeed, one would have to be an unrepentant renegade to say that he or she won’t act in the national interest. Yet, truth be told, very few people actually act in the national interest in Nigeria. Why? Well, first, there are […]

Let me state from the onset that calling Senator Ned Nwoko an irresponsible old man is not an insult. It is a statement of fact. Born on December 21, 1960, he will be 65 years next month. Some people believe that is his political age, which means he could be older. But let us stay with what […]

Every researcher has felt the weight of communicating complex ideas in a way that keeps readers listening rather than fleeing. It is not enough to have strong findings. It is not enough to work with impressive data. What separates impactful scholarship from silent work is the ability to make research speak like a human. In this article, […]

Come Thursday, 20 November, the Federal High Court in Abuja handling the trial of the secessionist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, will reach a decision one way or the other. Either Kanu will be sent home to his people in Afara Ukwu, sentenced to a term in prison or some sanction of sorts will be administered on him. It […]

“Every unguarded highway, every burnt out village, chips away at the argument that appointments alone satisfy regional expectations”, Dakuku Peterside, “2027: Battle for the Soul of the North“ The challenge before Nigeria as it approaches the 2027 elections is not merely about who wins or loses power; or who gets appointed into what office, it is about […]

THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE: RESTRUCTURING THE FEDERATING UNITS We may still retain the presidential system with restructuring of the federating units. The federating units can be zoned instead of the present states. These zones should be increased from the present 6 to about 8 to accommodate more zones of common origin. The zones shall retain the present 36 […]