By Emmanuel Aziken The theatrics shadowing the defection of Governor Dave Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC should ordinarily have been enough humour for Nigerians in the face of challenges at all levels of governance. But besides Umahi’s solo political drama, Nigerians were this week also treated to […]

The visit of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday was remarkable. The sympathy visit was despite the well-known political differences between the two leaderships of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos and Kaduna. Significantly, it came days after Mallam hosted one of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s most notable Southwest political rivals, Dr […]

By Emmanuel Aziken With the dominant influence of the United States in the world, it is understandable that many are concerned about next Tuesday’s presidential election. Dr Rueben Abati on Friday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the United States to ensure democratic ethos are observed in the election! The omens are indeed cloudy. On […]

By Emmanuel Aziken In the euphoria to get President Muhammadu Buhari to speak to the nation on the #EndSARS protest, it was bemusing seeing hardened critics of the president ardently and subtly pushing that he should not read from a prepared address. The intention was purely an act of mischief by the critics to ridicule […]

By Emmanuel Aziken The re-election of Rotimi Akeredolu as governor of Ondo State was a significant political landmark. While it showed the struggle for political ascendancy between the two major political parties in the country, it also posited the readiness of the increasingly divided chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to bury their […]

By Emmanuel Aziken The African First Ladies Peace Mission, AFLPM, has called for equal opportunities and greater protection of the girl child from gender-based violence, and harmful practices. The body of wives of African Heads of States and Governments made the call in a goodwill message by the Acting Chairperson and Nigerian First Lady, Mrs. […]

By Emmanuel Aziken If anyone still thought of Nigeria’s organized Labour as a serious bunch, that idea would have evaporated after the promised strike action was called off last Monday without any of the demands being met! Of course, many gave up on the present set of labour leaders long ago after they consistently kept […]

Your correspondent almost thought that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had turned into a pastor as he reacted for the first time to his defeat in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State. Yes, “to his defeat” because in the eyes of many, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu despite his strong political grit was secondary in the estimate of many in […]

By Emmanuel Aziken One of the most intriguing claims of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC leading to today’s governorship election in Edo State is that the votes of the people will count! It was a claim the chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu reiterated in the regular pre-election session with stakeholders earlier in […]

By Emmanuel Aziken Criticisms of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s seating posture while greeting the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwesi, at the coronation of the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal last weekend has again brought focus on the former Lagos State governor in the polity. The assertion of some was that Tinubu had perhaps taken […]

By Emmanuel Aziken Given the simplicity of his 2015 campaign agenda, it was so difficult to pin the 2015 presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC Muhammadu Buhari on any commitment on economic specificities. His mantra was that he was going to handle security, economy, and corruption. Now whether it was going to be […]

By Emmanuel Aziken United States (US) President, Donald Trump, on Thursday night brought the Republican National Convention to a close with a rousing speech that focused on the nearly 50 years of public service of his Democratic Party rival, Joe Biden. The speech was preceded by the controversy over the prospect of delivering a clearly […]

“If truly these shops were locked for not having proper and legal documents, that is evidence of their Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) registration, I think we can’t blame the Ghana government but rather our people. They should obey the laws that guide the country they are in.” — Mr Alli Abolore, Engineer. “In as […]

By Emmanuel Aziken There is no question as to the fact that no governorship election in the history of Edo State has been as unpredictable and tension packed as the one scheduled for September 19, 2019. The two major candidates, Governor Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the […]

By Emmanuel Aziken The bold confession of Aliyu Umar that he chained his 12-year-old son in an animal stall with goats with whom the lad fed and lived with for two years must have shocked many. Given the oddity in it, Umar was expected to have denied his act. But he justified his action on the […]