Category: Opinion

Throughout history, men have been under immense societal pressure to produce male heirs to carry on their names and legacies. This expectation has often led to strife, stress, and sometimes untoward actions. The preference for male heirs is deeply rooted in many societies, possibly stemming from the belief in male superiority. Historically, patriarchal families believed that women were economically dependent on men and thus became their subjects as daughters married, lived in their husbands’ homes, and did not carry the responsibility of caring for their parents. Despite these societal norms,…

Lagos State and the drama of its embattled lawmaker and ex-Speaker of its parliament, Mudashiru Obasa, appropriately answer to an idiom in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Insatiably curious about the mysteries of Wonderland, Alice had used the word, “Curiouser and curiouser” to express the mysteries of how she shrinks after drinking a potion. When Obasa emerged on Saturday to claim that he remained the Speaker of the parliament, Alice’s wonder at the mysteries of Wonderland became a fitting description of the theatre of the absurd that Lagos politics is.…

Three pieces of news of deaths in the last four weeks or so got me scampering for my copy of Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard’s existential philosophy. Kierkegaard wove his theory of death around what he called the uncertain certainty of death. To him, death is that strike we all know will surely come, are aware can strike at any moment of our lives but of which human beings assume their immortality. “It will not come now; it is not my portion…” are some of the assumptions of our immortality we…

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…

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…

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…

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…