Opinions

In January this year the Channels Television broadcast disturbing stories on the dilapidated state of the Ikeja Police College. Embarrassed by the disclosure President Jonathan paid an unscheduled visit to the college. The authorities decided to sack the Police Commissioner in charge of the college for allegedly allowing the Channels Television  expose. We dared the […]

Since 2005, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Aviation has had no fewer that six Ministers. Three of them lasted less than a year. The self-serving Femi Fani-Kayode who was dismissed in 2007 managed a grande total of 209 days. Particularly dispiriting about Fani-kayode’s dismissal is that it looked as if it marked the beginning of something […]

I was born on October 16th in the year of our Lord 1960 and consequently I celebrated my 53rd birthday last week wednesday. It was a quiet low-key affair in which, as is customary with me, I spent most of the day in fasting, prayer and sober reflection, surrounded by my loved ones, thanking the […]

Because Nigeria is a country that promotes mediocrity in all most all facets of its life, people like Mu azu Babangida Aliyu, Murtala Nyako and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso can be smuggled into positions of authority and by implication head institutions and even states courtesy of their godfather Obasanjo. It is on record for example that […]

The announcement by the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, that he will re-contest his position in the 2015 general election  generated several headlines and commentaries. Okorocha’s  declaration to contest the next election is in total negation of his position before assumption of office in 2011. At the 2011 Governor’s Debate at the […]

For the fourth time in five years, the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership – the world’s biggest individual prize – was not awarded, because “after careful consideration” the prize committee announced Monday, that there was no worthy recipient; hence there would be no 2013 laureate. Coming just when the African Union (AU) […]

I am intimately connected to Anambra State. My wife Chukwunonso hails from there. However my interest in Anambra state goes slightly beyond the type an ordinary in-law should have. I love the entertainment of their politics. It stands out as an intriguing theatre of absurdities. Mostly unpredictable, always filled with uncertainty, sometimes violent and often […]

Until recently when the Nobel Committee swiftly presented the 2009 award to President Barack Obama who had just occupied the Oval Office, promising to effect a change in the hawkish, hegemonic and aggressive nature of American foreign policy which the George Bush years exemplified, the Nobel Peace Prize was usually not known for criticisms. Three […]

In a recent media interaction, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State expressed deep concern at the inability of the NNPC to fund the federation account and facilitate payment of monthly allocations to the three tiers of government, especially when crude oil has consistently sold at over $100/barrel in place of the budget benchmark of $79/barrel! […]

In recent months I have had a cause to comment on several issues concerning Rivers State. This is because these happenings have far reaching significance beyond the geographic confines of that state. I am heartened that prominent Nigerians like former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and eminent jurist, […]

The controversial statements credited to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, amongst which is the provocative remark that plane accidents are ”inevitable” and that they were ”acts of God” is indeed very unfortunate, and anything but complimentary. Coming from some other person, this remark would be an innocuous comment which Nigerians may tolerate. But […]

During his Independence Day broadcast on October 1, President Goodluck Jonathan announced to a somewhat surprised nation his intention to facilitate a “national dialogue” on the future of Nigeria. To this end, he set up a 13-member Advisory Committee which was inaugurated a few days ago. It is understandable if Nigerians have mixed feeling about […]