By Obi Nwakanma Last week, dear reader, I felt too overwhelmed to write this column. It seemed pointless. Nigeria does this to you, yes. Events of such significance happen far too rapidly these days that it is no longer easy to respond to any without feeling a sense of despair. Just like last week, there […]

The missing link in the evolution of Nigerian politics in the last fifty years is the Zikist vision of a coherent nation -an economically prosperous and politically sovereign nation driven by a productive and empowered population, particularly a youth population, whose energy would instigate,  and translate into what the great Zik termed the “risorgimento” after the […]

On Wednesday, terrorists operating in Shiroro, Niger State, massacred numerous people, including about 42 Nigerian soldiers and policemen, and an unknown, unaccountable number of civilians at a mining site. Among those missing, according to certain media reports, are some Chinese. Just for context, the areas around the Shiroro Dam are where ISWAP fighters months ago mounted […]

The Justices of the Supreme Court, it does seem, did finally awaken to the dire straits of institutional corruption as they themselves have become victims of the malaise in the body politics of Nigeria.  The history of these justices was that once, they had been inured from the reality of society. Once appointed to the bench, […]

By Obi Nwakanma As at the time of writing this column, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 election, Mr. Atiku Abubakar had nominated Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, current governor of Delta State as his running mate. The choice is strategic. Under very normal circumstances, it would be a game-changer. Dr. Ifeanyi […]

 By Obi Nwakanma Mr. Peter Obi is not a “Doctor,” nor is he a “Chief” – he is just simply “Mister” – and that is what first fascinated me about him. He is not burdened by titles. He is not the typical Nigerian “big man”, who in the very large scheme of things is actually […]

By Obi Nwankanma Three weeks ago, Deborah Yakubu, a young Christian woman was lynched in Sokoto. First, they stoned her to death. Then they set her on fire. It was a horrifying death for a young woman who was by all account a gentle and harmless person, whose only sin was that she spoke up […]

By Obi Nwakanma Let us be mindful of the following facts that may be mired in the mud of this legitimate quest for an Igbo from the South East to be resident of Nigeria: first is that it is not true at all that the Igbo have never been president of Nigeria. The mere advance […]

Nigeria does have a national security challenge. This is very serious. Nigeria’s strategic vitals are nonetheless, still strong, and she may yet survive the current situation. Perhaps I speak too optimistically. There are no better options other than to be optimistic. Despair will be pointless.  My optimism, in spite of the many red flags, is […]

Lucius Ezeakamadu Nwosu was a force of nature. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Counsellor and defender of the poor and the powerless; a true lion at the bar, Nwosu died suddenly and quietly three weeks ago in Abuja.

Tunde Bakare lies about Balewa and the Igbo

By Obi Nwakanma Last week, I was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to give the keynote at the International Conference on Igbo Political Power convened jointly by the Institute of African Studies of the University of Nigeria, and the Harris Center of the University of Chicago, Illinois. I did explore the question of “Igbo […]

Charles Chukwuma Soludo is a brilliant economist. He made a Nsukka first in the years when to make a first-class at the University of Nigeria was like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

First, a shout out to readers of the ‘Orbit’ in the New Year. I have been on a much needed holiday from Nigerian affairs because, frankly, as any newspaper columnist knows, we run the risk of sounding like broken records if we keep persistently at it. Lethargy sets in.

I’d like to be upfront, right from the get-go, and say that Justice Mary Nwakaego Odili’s brother, Okey Nzenwa is an old pal of mine and that the good judge is a proud daughter of the very proud Mbaise clan, who are prouder still of her accomplishments at the bench of justice.