Year: 2023

Beyond the Rivers of Trouble,By Chidi Amuta

Emporium Reporters

In my adopted home state of Rivers, they do not “play” politics. They wage bitter “fights” over politics. Political outcomes are more of spoils of murky wars than victories of democratic rituals. While the contest for power and supremacy rages, instruments of violence are fair. People are killed routinely. Even long after a political battle has been won and lost, the bitterness endures. Political families become enemy camps. Political dispensations survive or die out according to their ability to sustain their camp with the spoils of war. So, political solidarity…

My administration invested N20b in Roads,Power,Spent N2b to clear NECO,WAEC, Electricity bills in 6months – Gov Bago says …… Bags Governor of the Year Award

Emporium Reporters

The administration of Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State said it had in the last six months invested N20 billion in upgrading some rural roads and providing solar electrification to some far situated villages in the state.   The administration equally spent over N2 billion on clearing backlog of debt owed the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) for registration of indigent students as electricity bill by the previous administration.   Gov Bago disclosed this at the End of The Year Party of the Nigerian Union…

All Brag, No Action By Funke Egbemode

Emporium Reporters

He knows it is not true. He doesn’t even believe it himself but he’d do his damned best to convince you it is true, with words, body language and treats (if he has money). He’d try to prove that he’s the best, that with him, you cannot go wrong. He would even dress suggestively to show you some concrete evidence. It’s all about bragging about his sexual prowess and he doesn’t stint on apparatus.   A man who is boasting about how good he is in bed (or any other…

As Fubara presses the nuclear button By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

If Nyesom Wike had read the character portrait of the Ijaw man as sketched by Dr. Percy Amoury Talbot, an early 20th century British historian and colonial administrator, he would most probably have thought twice before settling for Simnalaya Fubara as his third term placeholder. Wike was a two-term governor of Rivers State and today, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. In his highly authoritative 1926 book, Peoples of Southern Nigeria: a Sketch of their History, Ethnology, and Languages, with an Abstract of the 1921 Census, Talbot reserved an unflattering…

Fubara and the Rebellion of Godsons,by Simon Kolawole

Emporium Reporters

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and face-offs between godfathers and godsons in Nigerian politics. The open war between Chief Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers state, and Mr Siminalayi Fubara, whom he handpicked as his successor, is the latest in the catalogue of godfathers vs godsons which, I reckon, is as old as Nigerian politics. Godfathers, or godmothers, are heavyweights who deploy their political or economic might to handpick candidates for political offices. Ordinarily, their anointed candidates, or godsons/goddaughters, do not have the machinery to win elections…

The Resurrection of Muhammadu Buhari… By Abdullahi O. Haruna Haruspice

Emporium Reporters

He was pronounced dead by those with credible inside sources, a Professor in Atlanta swore to high heavens that President Muhammadu Buhari had died. His satanic audacity was later corroborated by Nnamdi Kanu. So sure were these two young Nigerians that they rechristen him Jubril of Sudan! In blind posture, they dissected the man in pictorial frame- using every part of the man’s body to frame and illustrate their fallacy. Tragically, millions of supposedly educated people bought into the narrative, and the story of Jubril of Sudan gained its desired…

Disregard General Cecil’s satanic report, group advises APC critical stakeholders … says it smirks of stomach infrastructure

Emporium Reporters

A group under the aegis of Concerned Esan Indigenes for Good Governance on Sunday declared that the General Cecil Esekhaigbe report should be thrown into archival dustbin as it’s satanic in nature and will not favor Edo Central.   This was contained in a statement issued and signed by its convener, Monday Isibor stating that:   “Concerned about the high number of governorship aspirants from Edo Central Senatorial District (Esan Land) some groups and individuals have, for months now, been appealing that some aspirants should step down in favour of…

El-Rufai bags traditional title of Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland

Emporium Reporters

Former Governor of Kaduna, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has been conferred with the chieftaincy title of Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland.   Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland on Saturday, conferred the prestigious title on Elrufai.   Malam El-Rufai is said to be the first Nigerian outside the Southwest region to receive a chieftaincy title from the Awujale of Ijebuland in his nearly 64-year reign.   However, while expressing his delight on the installation, Elrufai tweeted on his official X handle, “I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, the 16th…

Dabiri-Erewa celebrates Nigerian First Black Female Commissioner in Chicago,Olusimbo Ige

Emporium Reporters

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has congratulated Dr Olusimbo Ige, a Nigerian, on her appointment as the Commissioner Chicago Department of Public Health, thus becoming the First Black Female to occupy such position. In a congratulatory statement, Dabiri-Erewa described Ige’s milestone as “extraordinary” “History made ! Congrats to the first Black Woman in the History of Chicago Dept. of Public Health to be appointed as Commissioner.” She said Ige’s appointment has once again confirmed that Nigerians in the Diaspora are excelling and impacting positively wherever…

Osun APC and some hard home truths (1) By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Emporium Reporters

Olajumoke Ogunkeyede is a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State. JMK, as Ogunkeyede is popularly called, was also a chieftain of the now-rested National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He participated actively in putting an end to military rule and the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.   In a chance encounter with yours sincerely recently, JMK has these to say on the state of Osun APC:   “I am not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and I try not to dabble into the running of…