Category: Opinion

The Untiring FIRS Boss By Arabinrin Aderonke

Emporium Reporters

When I ventured into the office to see the tax boss, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, I was met with an unexpected sight. He was wearing a face cap, a T-shirt, and jeans. It was the first time I had seen him dressed so casually during official hours, and I couldn’t help but smile and think, “This is so unlike him.” But before I could ask, I learned he was heading out for an inspection of the ongoing construction of the FIRS headquarters. This is the…

Dynamics of Rising Crude Oil Prices Impact PMS By Adefolarin A. Olamilekan

Emporium Reporters

As Donald Trump takes the oath of office as the 46th President of the United States of America, the entire global economy is already feeling the heat, especially with the rumble driving upward crude oil prices. Interestingly, many media reports published the surging crude prices that reflect the local prices of Petrol prices in Nigeria, which witnessed notable increases across major depots, with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) selling at elevated rates due to regional challenges and supply dynamics. The price adjustments, which vary between Lagos and Calabar, reflect underlying disruptions…

Bank shares and bank Tzars By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

Some 15 years ago, millions of poor Nigerians were conned into borrowing to buy bank shares. I was one of them. I had no one to pull my ears and tell me that I needed to be educated first before seeking to hoe that farm of thorns. Records still say I am a shareholder of some banks, including First Bank. But that is where it ends. It has been sweat without sweet – which is why I amuse myself showing stupid interest in intrigues among big men who run big…

Monday Lines 1 Islam: Beyond terrorism and Boko Haram By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

The United Arab Emirates has just held its Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Our president was there. A part of that event was the World Future Energy Summit which ended on Thursday last week. Saudi Arabia is holding a Smart City and Infrastructure Expo in September this year. It held one last year. When Muslim countries do things as these, they advertise Islam in the very best form. They make Islam attractive and beautiful.   Like Saudi Arabia, we have Islam here in abundance but we lack the sanity and prosperity…

“Breathe in, breathe out, Nigeria,” by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

Some time ago, I had an oblique conversation with Governor Mai Mala Buni about my health condition, and something related to the topic of this piece came out. Sometimes, I get amazed at how he recalls things we see as inconsequential or forgotten because of time and relates them to everyday life. Because of this and many others, I always believe the creator blessed him with so much wisdom that he could pass for a sage.   Thanks to present realities, I mostly stay at home throughout the week, going…

A Sunday worship with Ifa priest, Wande Abimbola By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

Last week’s ascension to the Alaafin of Oyo throne by then Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade courted tremendous ruckus in Yorubaland. Why would an unseen Ifa deity and its cloudy, ancient system of divination choose an Alaafin? Implicated in the back-and-forth that followed was 92-year old Ògúnwán̄dé Abím̄bọ́lá, professor of Yoruba language and literature and one-time vice chancellor of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. In 1981, a conclave of Ifa priests in Yorubaland anointed Abimbola as the Àwísẹ Awo Àgbàyé (World Ifa Priest). He was then investured by…

Revisiting Obaseki’s Dark Legacies By Fred Itua

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Edo State has had its fair share of political drama, but the exposés surrounding former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration are giving Nollywood a run for its money. From land-grabbing sagas to oil palm scandals, the State has been left reeling from a cocktail of alleged mismanagement and shady dealings. Enter Governor Monday Okpebholo, the man now tasked with cleaning up the mess.   Let’s call a spade a spade. The administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki was notorious for acts that flagrantly undermined the interests of Edo State. While his…

NEPAD Bill: National Coordinator urges Senate to Fast-Track Passage for Enhanced Operations

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac   The National Coordinator of the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Hon. Jabiru Salisu Tsauri, has called for a collaborative effort between the legislature and the executive to ensure the timely passage of the NEPAD Bill. Tsauri emphasized that executive sponsorship of the bill would expedite its passage, enabling the agency to better deliver on its mandate. During the 2025 budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, led by Senator Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, Tsauri…

Lessons from Ghana By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Emporium Reporters

Nigeria’s self-proclaimed status as the ‘Giant of Africa’ is being questioned once again, and a recent example from Ghana highlights this reality. The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana conceded defeat even before the polls closed, showcasing a level of democratic maturity. This incident serves as a reminder that Nigeria’s claim to being a giant may not be entirely justified, considering factors beyond mere size or population. To begin with, a lot of what happened in Ghana was a stark and painful reminder that Nigeria is not a competitive…

Governor Okpebholo Holds Steady Advantage as Edo Election Tribunal Progresses By Fred Itua

Emporium Reporters

The ongoing Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal has no more or less become the epicenter of political discourse in the State and beyond, with analysts and citizens closely monitoring unfolding developments.   At the heart of the proceedings is Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose victory was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the September 21 election is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Akintunde Ighodalo.   Interestingly, despite the opposition’s claims, proceedings so far suggest that Governor Okpebholo’s…