It was late at night; and sleep refused to come despite trying all the tricks known to me. As usual, I got up; opened my set to read some news of our world. Bored by the Israel-Hamas War report and the final selection of a Speaker for the US House of Representatives, I went in search of news which would be positive and uplifting. Suddenly, there it was. The story of Professor Gebisa Ejeta, a plant geneticist, teaching at Purdue University, USA, who was born in a poor village in Ethiopia; had a difficult childhood; trekked miles shoeless to school everyday, without breakfast and who overcame all those mind-boggling obstacles to become the person who can save Africans from mass starvation in the future.

The impression cannot be lost on anybody witnessing the spectacle that we are at war in one of Nigeria’s food

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  –  George Santayana, 1863-1952

President Tinubu reminds me of the man struggling with alligators in a swamp. He can be forgiven for forgetting that his first objective was to drain the swamp. His “friend” Atiku, had just added to his worries in life. Being accused of certificate forgery is very serious matter for any official. For a President, it is politically fatal. Trust is the most important attribute a leader can have. To lose that is to lose everything.

It was late at night; and sleep refused to come despite trying all the tricks known to me. As usual, I got up; opened my set to read some news of our world. Bored by the Israel-Hamas War report and the final selection of a Speaker for the US House of Representatives, I went in search of news which would be positive and uplifting. Suddenly, there it was. The story of Professor Gebisa Ejeta, a plant geneticist, teaching at Purdue University, USA, who was born in a poor village in Ethiopia; had a difficult childhood; trekked miles shoeless to school everyday, without breakfast and who overcame all those mind-boggling obstacles to become the person who can save Africans from mass starvation in the future.

When in late November last year, I was invited as a facilitator for a sales training workshop, the participants were startled when my lecture started with a graph. The graph traced the trend of exchange rate since 2020; it ended with a projection for 2023. I correctly predicted that exchange rate for 2023 would reach N1000/US$1. None of the participants believed me. I repeated it in VANGUARD early this year when currency change precipitated economic lockdown nationwide. So, just remember this; irrespective of how you feel about N1000/US$1: VANGUARD told you first.  

Each time I read or listen to someone asking why the FG does not repair our four museum pieces called refineries, it occurs to me that this is another explanation why Africans lag behind the rest of the world intellectually.

Right now, nobody on earth has a tougher assignment than you. You have my sympathies. Because you lead a team of Deputy Governors, all new to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, embarking on the nearest thing to “Mission Impossible”, I want to start by congratulating you on your appointment as Governor of CBN. The occupant of that seat is the Governor of Governors. None of the thirty-six elected Governors can impact our lives as the CBN Governor. In fact, once you are sworn in, you will become the second most powerful man in Nigeria — after the President. It is an awesome responsibility which will test your competence and character every single minute.

“Love and business and family and religion and art and patriotism are nothing but shadows of words when a man is starving.” O Henry, 1862-1910. “Let them eat cake.” Queen Marie Antoinette, 1755-1793.

More heads of government, elected Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs and, even dictators, have been toppled on account of unexpected and unprecedented food riots in many countries of the world.

The vocal elite are at it again. Every move by President Tinubu is hailed as the right thing to do — which will soon improve the economy. The last time any Nigerian leader tried to drag us into a market-led economy was when General Babangida introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, in 1987; which was received with loud ovation — before the saboteurs went to work to wreck it. I have already published some of what happened. Some of the richest Nigerians today were among the worst saboteur

Mr Hadi Sirika, ex-Minister of  Aviation, in Buhari’s government, on Friday, May 26, 2023, demonstrated to the entire world why his appointment was a blunder and why the government he served was a colossal failure. In a desperate bid to leave a legacy of achievement, which had eluded him, in eight years in office, launched an airline he called Nigeria Air. The absurdity of the event could not escape anybody who has not lost his senses for several reasons. Only a few will be touched upon here – for posterity.

By Dele Sobowale “There are no desperate situations; only desperate men.” — Joseph Goebbels, 1897-1945. Mr Hadi Sirika, ex-Minister of Aviation, in Buhari’s government, on Friday, May 26, 2023, demonstrated to the entire world why his appointment was a blunder and why the government he served was a colossal failure. In a desperate bid to […]

“Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in a strife of truth and falsehood, for the good or evil side” – James Russell Lowell, 1819-1891.

Most Nigerians must have heard the opinion credited to a group recently — “Fix refineries before removing subsidies, group tells FG.” The speakers make what are, apparently, very persuasive arguments with which virtually everybody agrees. Unfortunately for us, what is apparent is not always real.

By Dele Sobowale “Court order: Arik Air bars Arumeni-Ikhide from accessing premises” – Report, April 12, 2023 Before going on, there is a need, once again, to declare that I have never met Mr. Johnson Arumeni-Ikhide, the Chairman/Founder of Arik Airlines or any member of his family. Like most regular flyers, since 1974, I have […]

By Dele Sobowale “$800 million at best is equivalent to about N360 billion and when you divide this by the targeted 10 million households, that amounts to approximately N36,000. What significant or tangible effect would this have on anyone, irrespective of status?” – Wale-Smatt Ojerinde, Director General, NECA The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, DG […]