Opinions

If there was any doubt that she is in charge of the country, it was dispelled last week with what could easily pass as a “presidential address” by Her Excellency, Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan (PFJ). I take issue with the way the First Lady of the Federal Republic has carried herself since a combination […]

It would have been enough to dismiss the utterances as the ranting of an overzealous and misguided presidential handler. But against the backdrop of the supercilious rampage and the embarrassingly obvious spectacle of presidential lawlessness in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, it is risky to ignore the recent statements of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Special […]

You only get to see one even if there are many more living out of public glare in semi-retirement. We are talking here of executive wives, women married to men of means and ways- inflated balloons turned power houses by virtue of straying into the corridors of power either by the imposition of powerful brigands […]

It is no longer in doubt that the lingering political impasse in Rivers State has grown into a monster that may consume the weak democracy Nigerians are struggling to nurse into maturity. Already, most people are dissatisfied with the manner the problem is being managed especially as many can say precisely where the problem is. […]

The last time the Nigerian Constitution was in the news like this, the spotlight was on Section 145. And, that was in 2010. It took the Senate President, David Mark’s ingenious “Doctrine of Necessity” to resolve the matter. Three and half years later, it’s Section 29 that’s in the news. This is what happened last […]

The current face-off between the Presidency and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, is unpatriotic, and most embarrassing to Nigerians, more so, as it is widely believed that Amaechi is being persecuted for nursing ambitions to contest the 2015 presidential election; against the consuming desires of an imperial president Goodluck Jonathan, who is now standing trial […]

A lot has been happening lately in Rivers State: From pro-Governor Chibuike Amaechi protesters to anti-Amaechi protesters and the fight at the House of Assembly. Many individuals and groups have added their voices on the crises. Many have sued for peace, more wars, transparency, equity, democratic norms, abhorrence of brickbats, bickering, tinkering, and every quagmires […]

It is no longer news that the Senate has not been able to summon a majority enough to remove a clause in the Nigerian Constitution that grants the status “of full age” to a person who has been married.Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution says: 1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes […]

Nigeria is a deeply flawed polity. And unless we brace up to this reality and do something about it, we would continue to witness the show of shame that is going on in the name of democracy in Rivers State and indeed across the country. In July 2003, a pseudo-democrat and putative dictator posing as […]

Can the president of the Federal Republic levy war against a state and get away with it? From the conduct of President Goodluck Jonathan’s henchmen and women in the Rivers contrived crisis, that appears the case. It is nothing short of criminalising the presidency. But how much of this impunity can the civil order bear […]

“Without the will of incorruptible judges and other law enforcement officials, all our modest efforts would have come to naught.” I read Mahmud Jega’s Daily Trust column a fortnight ago, with the title “Gra-gra versus softly-softly”.  It was composed in his characteristic meticulousness which also touched a nerve that concerns all.  It also involved me, […]

The disastrous outing of reigning African champions; Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the recently concluded FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil was an experience abundant in lessons; not the least of which is the lack of focus and seriousness of purpose by Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials, who stopped at nothing to make sure the Eagles put […]