“There is no doubting the fact that the era of small things and small people has finally dawned upon us”–   John Buchan Most discussions of the “National Question” invariably and instinctively boil down to one thing only – the “Northern Question”. This was particularly evident in the deliberations of the 2014 National Conference and most utterances […]

“Let us by all means be up and doing, setting the world to rights and sounding our own trumpets”–   John Buchan The idea that Nigeria and its inhabitants can be grouped into clusters of South-Westerners, South-Southerners, South-Easterners, Middle Belters and Indigenous Minorities on one side and pitted against “Northerners” on the other side, makes for a […]

“Moreover, the psychology of individuals, even in the most extreme instances, reflects the general effect of the fears and hopes of its time”-  Joseph Conrad The May 1, 2025 editorial of Business Day titled “Nigeria’s self-destruction: Ethnic politics cripples progress”, made a sober assessment of politics and governance in the country, and provided the context for […]

“Apathy can only be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal which takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying out that ideal into practice”–   Arnold Toynbee The state of our nation today calls for an honest and critical self-appraisal. We have become […]

“A sentiment asserts its claim by its force, persistence and universality“- Joseph Conrad My younger readers might find this  piece of interest in their attempts at understanding what democracy means. If democracy is a sentiment, it can assert itself by the force of practice and persistence that can be felt from its universality and common […]