Forex fight: CBN governor versus san
VANGUARD, OCTOBER 31, 2023.This news report on the last day of October brought an end to a dreadful month for those charged with managing the Nigerian economy – especially its exchange rate – as well as the rest of us; whose lives are now totally controlled by the dollar. For people like me who remember better days, now looking like fairy tales, the decline of the Naira has been a painful experience. After a preliminary visit to Nigeria in December 1973 to January 1974, I finally decided to return home finally.
Limping down a familiar road
ON New Year day, Nigerians woke up to be stunned by the removal of subsidy on petrol. Reminiscent of the days of SAP protests, the nation was understandably convulsed by angry demonstrations nationwide, with some resulting in unnecessary deaths.
Revolution? Wake me up if it ever starts!
ONE of the phrases I have come to hate nowadays is “lesson for Nigeria”. I have really had it up my hairline; I want to puke! Everybody is now an (unsolicited) expert on “lesson for Nigeria”. If a President is assassinated somewhere, they jump out, “lesson for Nigeria”!
FRSC, new licence, the baby and bath water
PERHAPS the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, was acting according to conventional wisdom by ignoring the needless controversy started by the National Assembly over the new licence and vehicle identification number plate scheme.
Ojukwu: He electrified the stage
A GREATER part of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s life was full of drama and the man himself filled and electrified his stage in a way only he could. Born into one of the wealthiest families at that time, with onomatopoeic names that evoked awe, he brought panache to whatever he did.
One president, one constitutional conference
ON November 17, 2011, President Jonathan inaugurated a 21-member Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional Issues. Forget our penchant for long-winded, convoluted titles; this is a Constitutional Review Committee! It is an abbreviated Constitutional Conference!
The way we do things
ONE of the most profound statements I have come across in recent time is that we cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are! Every time I reflect on this maxim, I end up asking myself whether in truth, we Nigerians really want to make progress and become the developed country that we want to be.
An un-shockable society
DURING his time, the late Dele Giwa once wrote that we were fast becoming an un-shockable society. I am afraid that the doomsday of Dele Giwa’s prophecy is here. The first time the extremist group, Boko Haram, unleashed violence on the nation, we were all horrified.
Standing firm against sodomy
DURING the 1996 Images of Africa festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, there were many cultural events showcasing the beautiful cultures of Africa to the rest of the world.
Time to reconsider the concept of ‘Federal’ roads
ONE of the areas of serious “infrastructure deficit” (a fine euphemism for infrastructural decay) in Nigeria is in the area of our federal roads. Today, except in Abuja, there is hardly any federal road in any part of the country that is not a national disgrace.
Sooner than later, we shall have to pay
THE most dominant topic of discussion in the country at the moment is a very unpopular one—the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
