Backstory of Osun Poll, and What’s Next for Adeleke, by Azu Ishiekwene
The money that politicians didn’t spend in Osun during the August 15 governorship election was the money they didn’t have and couldn’t steal. All kinds of figures have been bandied about, in hundreds of millions and billions. It’s difficult to say if these are over- or underestimations. But damn, it was some cash! Credible sources suggest […]
Government people, Police permit and the rest of us, by Adekunle Adekoya
WE just celebrated our country’s 65th independence anniversary last Wednesday. On the occasion, the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu reeled out statistics about how the national economy is improving and is, in fact, headed for eldorado. Brilliant speech with impressive statistics to back up the president’s claim. Just a snag, however. Food prices refuse to come […]
How to drink from a poisoned cup: Harold Smith and the Nigerian story, by Azu Ishiekwene
On the eve of Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, I reflected on Harold Smith. He’s not widely known in Nigeria. And that’s probably to be expected for a man whom the British establishment ostracised for decades for daring to be different, before his death. He was everything the British colonial authorities didn’t want him to be, and […]
Peace in pieces may be better than no peace at all, by Owei Lakemfa
Abusafiah Ramzy Ibrahim, a Nigerian-Palestinian who has lived peacefully in the country for 35 years was abducted from his Abuja home on August 22, 2025. The suit-wearing, shadowy Nigerian security agency with diplomacy as camouflage, was accused of the act. Nothing was heard of Ramzy; he seemed simply to have disappeared from the earth’s surface. […]
Do We Deserve Bad Leadership? By Donu Kogbara
On Tuesday night, I appeared on Charles Aniagolu’s Arise TV show, alongside Dele Farotimi and Professor Jibrin Ibrahim. We had been invited to discuss my view that most of today’s Nigerians deserve bad leadership because they don’t protest significantly when they are subjected to endless injustices and governance deficits. Nigeria can and should be a great […]
What exactly does Lagos State want from Ndigbo? By Ikechukwu Amaechi
On October 1, Nigeria marked its 65th anniversary as an independent country and Nigerian leaders, as usual, used the opportunity to preach the gospel of peace and unity. Nigeria, many insisted, is the handiwork of God. President Bola Tinubu led the choir in his nationwide broadcast with this rallying cry: “While our system and ties […]
