Why political parties in Nigeria should be reformed, by Salihu Moh. Lukman

The Fourth Republic, which began on May 29, 1999 was received by most activists in Nigeria with contempt and outright denial.   As a privileged leader of the pro democracy movement in Nigeria, I recall with utmost regret how we refused to participate in the Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar transition programme that ushered in the Fourth Republic.   Being a founding member of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), and a founding member of Democratic Alternative (DA), it is painful to recall how we rationalised our refusal to participate in the transition…

Air Force neutralizes dreaded terrorist, Yellow Jambros, in air strikes

The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch, has killed a dreaded terrorist identified as Yellow Jambros, and scores of other terrorists in airstrikes in Shiroro local government area of Niger.   His killing was disclosed in a statement made by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.   Gabkwet said the terrorists met their waterloo while attempting to cross the Jikudna River in Galadima Kogo District, heading towards Wurukuvhi axis of Chikun LGA.   Speaking further in the statement, Gabkwet said Yellow…

Natasha’s Kogi Central: From Quietude To Activeness, by Abubakar Yusuf

No doubt , it has been a beehive of activities and return of quality representation to Kogi Central after so many decades of the demise of Senator Ahmed Tijani Ahmed of blessed memory, whose representation stood out among many others produced in the current Nigeria’s democratic journey from Kogi Central.   The election and subsequent swearing- in of Senator Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan also ends the perennial installation of stooges on the coveted Kogi Central Senatorial seat , with the past occupants who had displayed stooge like attitudes, that was testament…

The Change that Never Was,By Simon Kolawole

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Pardon my French. I was saying: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” When the All Progressives Congress (APC) wowed Nigerians with the slogan of “change” ahead of the 2015 elections, I was as sceptical as I could be, knowing well that it was a gimmick. In my article, ‘May We Now Discuss the Issues, Please?’ (THISDAY, December 21, 2014), I wrote: “I am one of those Nigerians who cannot be easily moved by political slogans. I love the…

Time to restore ‘universe’ to our universities – Martins Oloja

As I had noted earlier to my friends and colleagues across platforms, the wind of convocation time blew me to the Sunshine state, Ondo on Thursday December 7, 2023 where I delivered the 12th Convocation Lecture of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga E. Ige, led me into temptation of writing 11, 544-word lecture. The lecture titled, “Internationalisation of Universities for Global Relevance”, was quite remarkable for various contexts and contents. In some historical excursions, a correlation between federalism and internationalisation was established to the…

Tinubu and Frank Kokori: A reporter remembers By Festus Adedayo

It was 25 years ago; Saturday, October 10, 1998 to be precise. We were all inside the living room of the Yaba, Lagos modest home of Frank Ovie-Kokori. We were waiting for our heroes. In the heat of the June 12, 1993 presidential election validation saga, Kokori was Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers and a major weapon deployed by pro-democracy activists to frustrate the vile government of Head of State, General Sani Abacha. The journey from Ibadan, Oyo State to Lagos this morning…

P&ID: London court awards £20m costs in favour of Nigeria

A United Kingdom court presided over by Justice Robin Knowles has directed Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited to pay Nigeria £20 million as damages and compensation to Nigeria following the country’s victory in an $11 billion judgment debt which was heard in October.   The said sum must be paid to Nigeria in the next 28 days.   The award of the £20 million as damages was disclosed during a consequential ruling on the matter that took place in London on Friday to find out what next after the…

Kaduna drone incident, a human error – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, has described last Sunday’s incident where military drone strike killed 120 worshippers in Tudun Biri community in Kaduna State as a mistake. He said this on Saturday at the graduation of the Senior Executive Course, SEC 45 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, in Jos. Recall that the military mistakenly killed scores of villagers in drone strikes during a religious festival in Kaduna State. Following the two airstrikes, about 120 people died while no fewer than 68…

Breaking: Senators donate December salaries to victims of Kaduna drone Mishap

All the 109 senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have donated their one-month salaries, amounting to N109m to the victims of drone mishap in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of the Kaduna State. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, announced this at the Kaduna Government House when he led a high-powered delegation of the Senate to the state on Sunday. The Senators were received by the State Governor, Senator Uba Sani. Senator Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Ismail…

Ademakinwa: Whats left of life? By abiodun KOMOLAFE

I do not know how to start this Tribute. Still, I have to do it; and its to Temitope Adeniran Ademakinwa who died on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Ademakinwa died at the age of 62, leaving behind a 97-year-old mother, an elder brother and a daughter.   During his lifetime, Ademakinwa was gracefully cerebral and deeply analytical. He was meticulous, truthful and responsible. He was gentle, yet assertive. In all things, our departed brother trusted God infinitely. Even when he was passing through difficult times, he remained a distinctive voice…