Today’s economic challenge of a deep recession has brought about some far-from-positive developments. They include shedding of work force by some companies, budgetary astringency on the part of government and the organized private sector (OPS), a disturbing rate of mortality of small- and medium-scale enterprises and the growing weakness of …
Read More »Ife mayhem and the need for caution By Tayo Ogunbiyi
It is no longer news that the ancient and mystique town of Ile-Ife was recently engulfed in an ethnic clash that made blood to flow like ordinary water. According to unconfirmed reports, by the time the conflict ended, about 500 lives were lost and properties worth hundreds of millions of …
Read More »Tribute: Engr. Dr. Patrick Obi: The Higher Man By Val Obieyem
Today is the birthday of Patrick Ifeanyi Nky Obi I normally do not care about birthdays, including mine. However, when I saw that of this wonderful, one-in-a- century work of God, I could not resist wishing him a happy birth day. At a point of being dejected about the nature …
Read More »Reminiscences: A Trip Up North By Val Obienyem
My recent trip to Sokoto reminded me of an interesting trip to Adamawa in 2005. I have exhumed an article I wrote in 2005 after that trip. Here it goes: A Trip Up North Like the man, the invitation to me was couched simply: “The Adamawa Emirate Council in conjunction …
Read More »Apostle Suleiman and the Logic of ‘Fallen Angels’ By Jideofor Adibe
While the term ‘fallen angels’ does not appear anywhere in the Bible, it is generally used by Christians to describe one-third of the angelic hosts who joined angel Lucifer in his rebellion against God (Revelation 12:3-4, 9). Lucifer (also known as Satan) and his accomplices subsequently fell from heaven (Isaiah …
Read More »Africa and the danger of xenophobia By Jedy Omisore
Expectedly, the fever of xenophobia in the Rainbow nation continues to send shock waves across the African continent. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this creepy event has shaken the foundation of brotherhood in Africa and brought the already tenuous relationship between Nigeria and South Africa …
Read More »On Bolanle Ambode’s shoe revolution By Tayo Ogunbiyi
Education has long been recognized as a way out of poverty and ignorance for individuals, and as a way of promoting equal opportunity. Late South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela once reinforced the power of education when he described it as the greatest engine of personal development through which anyone …
Read More »Kaduna International Trade Fair and matters arising
BY MALLAM JIBRIL L. TAFIDA The just concluded 2017 Kaduna International Trade Fair has come and gone, but the dust it has raised may remain in the horizon for a very long time to come. The 2017 trade fair may pass as the worst in the history of the gangling …
Read More »Prof. Osinbajo, Obaseki and lessons from Democracy By John Mayaki
On Monday, 6th of March 2017, Acting President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. The visit was part of his several others to states in the Niger-Delta to interact with leaders of the oil rich communities on how to resolve the persistent …
Read More »Tribute: Obumselu: The Intellectual Icon departs By C. Don Adinuba
With the death in the early hours of March 4, 2017, of Benedict Ebele Obumselu, Africa and indeed the world have been robbed of one of the most formidable minds in recent times. Whether in oral pronouncements or in writing or even in the manner he walked and gesticulated, …
Read More »Vice President of Shell Nigeria and Gabon, Mr. Peter Costello, SNEPCo top shots at Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference
The tasks before Akeredolu By Bolanle Bolawole
[email protected] 0705 263 1058 It is not everyone who wins elections that ascends to the throne. We have the case of the late Chief MKO Abiola, who won the freest and fairest presidential election in the annals of this country but was not allowed to govern. His election was annulled …
Read More »Iroko, Aketi and South-West politics, by Tunde Rahman
The constant travels and other engagements I have been involved in lately will permit just general interventions in a few recent events and developments in the country, particularly in Ondo State as they affect two leaders of the state- one just ended his two terms of office, the other has …
Read More »Re: Ekiti governorship, Fayose and Oni’s second-coming By Dauda Lawal
Ekiti State politics has many interesting scenarios in view of its many peculiarities. But one dimension of the politics of the state that is fast becoming quite worrisome is the emergence of a crop of barely informed commentators and analysts labouring to define and re-define the political realities of the …
Read More »Lagos, public transportation and social harmony By Lateef Raji
It is worrisome that a sprawling metropolis of Lagos’ status, that attained mega city status 10 years back, is still bogged down by such anti social behavior like street trading, illegal creation of bus stops, cart pushing and the intractable menace of Okada riders who defied all existing rules except …
Read More »South Africa: Xenophobia or ‘Afro-Asiaphobia’? By Jideofor Adibe
The recent upsurge in anti-immigrant attacks in South Africa has renewed concerns about the episodic wave of what some people call xenophobic attacks in that country. It is estimated that between 2008 and 2015, about 350 people lost their lives in such ‘xenophobic’ attacks in the country. But is it …
Read More »Igbo Youth Movement Convention calls for restructuring of Nigeria
The 18th Annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, has resolved that only a truly federal structure anchored on true fiscal federalism can sustain Nigeria. The Convention, held in Enugu on Thursday, 19th January 19, 2017 had as its theme: “How To Resolve The Crises of Nigeria as …
Read More »Before It Is Too Late: My Second Epistle To Bitter Wendell Smilin aka Reno Omokri By David Iyofor
My Dear Wendell Smilin aka Reno Omokri, If you are astonished that I am writing you a second letter so soon, barely 24 hours after I lovingly admonished you in my first epistle to you, kindly pardon me. I do not mean to belabour you with this letter …
Read More »100 Days: Centennial musings on Obaseki’s economic administration By John Mayaki
That Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki’s government in Edo State would be a colossal success should never have been in doubt. The handwriting had always been on the wall; but those who are wanting when foresight is being deployed could not have perceived it. His background in finance and international business …
Read More »A Letter To Wendell Simlin aka Reno Omokri On Your Petty Vituperations Against Rotimi Amaechi By David Iyofor
My dear Wendell aka Reno, I am not sure how to address you, whether to call you Reno Omokri or Wendell Smilin. This in itself is a fundamental problem. Your multiple identities send a profound message about your character and duplicitous personality. For the benefit of …
Read More »PDP’s destruction: Highway to new mega party? By Bolanle Bolawole
[email protected] 0705 263 1058 The Court of Appeal split decision that affirmed Modu Sheriff as the authentic chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) jolted the Ahmed Makarfi faction as well as sent shock waves that reverberated across the polity. As would be expected, Sheriff and his supporters have gloated …
Read More »Rallying support for the Catholic Bishop of Awka By Val Obienyem
I wrote this article on the 13th of February, but unlike me I noticed the reluctance to publish it. I have the feeling that it might be misunderstood. What do I do? I am increasingly persuaded that I have a message to pass and therefore have decided to go on. …
Read More »New face of housing in Lagos By Nwonah Olubukonla
Apart from food and clothing, housing ranks as one of man’s three fundamental needs. In developed nations, housing has gone beyond just having a roof over one’s head but rather a yardstick to measure a person’s standard of living and position in the society. Consequently, developed nations invest heavily in …
Read More »Is Dolapo Osinbajo also acting First Lady? By Bola Bolawole
[email protected] 0807 552 5533 If Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is acting president, it stands to reason that his wife, Dolapo, should also be acting First Lady; the only snag, however, is that unlike the substantive president who has been sidelined by illness, the substantive First Lady, as far as we know, …
Read More »The evolution of Yemi Osinbajo Jideofor Adibe
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been receiving deserved kudos for the way he has been holding forte since President Muhammadu Buhari went on medical vacation in England on January 19 2017. In this round as Acting President Osinbajo seems to have brought a new style, which he had not …
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