Category: Opinion

Edo Governor Celebrates Oba Ewuare II, Edo People on Igue Festival

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has extended warm felicitations to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, the Oba of Benin, and the entire Edo people on the occasion of the annual Igue Festival.   In a statement issued on Monday, Governor Okpebholo described the Igue Festival as a sacred period of thanksgiving to Almighty God for the peace and development witnessed in the Benin Kingdom.   He acknowledged the remarkable progress made by the Benin Kingdom and Edo State despite…

2024: A Wonderfully Tough Year, By Kazeem Akintunde

Emporium Reporters

In the next 48 hours, we should be saying our final goodbye to the year 2024. It has been one hell of a journey navigating through the year for most Nigerians. Many have died, millions of others are struggling to keep their heads above water. Still, we should give thanks to God that we survived and are still counted amongst the living.   Now is the time to do a postmortem on the year so that we can all plan ahead for the new year. What are those things we…

Monday Lines Pastor Adeboye, owners of Nigeria and 2025 By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

If the elites of the North will not ‘give’ President Bola Tinubu a second term, who told them that the South will give power back to them in 2027? Leper losing his needle presents peculiar problems. It is not two years since power changed hands in Nigeria but the jungle is already rumbling. Mordant cries about French bases, about federal appointments lacking symmetry, about dirty gutters and stinking swamps are all familiar tricks of snatching the forest from the current champion. The roars of ‘fairness’ are not about ‘justice’ and…

Ex-Queen Naomi and beheaded skulls in Mògún shrine By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

In my piece of last week, I made a tangential reference to the place of African magic in modern matters. It was in the discussion of the calamity that befell Nigeria a few days to Christmas. Ibadan, the capital city of the Yoruba, had taken a sizeable chunk of the tragedy. Thirty five persons, the bulk of whom were kids, had been trampled to death in a stampede. The dead and a crowd estimated to be about ten thousand, had heeded invitation to attend a funfair where freebies, which included…

Nigerians in Súàrá Sòbó bus By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

I have been asked severally what my opinion was on last week’s presidential media chat. First, I must commend the presidency for hosting the chat, though belatedly after 19 months of holding back. When the people hear directly from their leaders and not from third parties they didn’t elect, it affords them opportunity of psycho-analyzing the man at the helm of affairs, match his gestures with policies and project what the leadership’s future strides will be.   It was also gladsome to see the president radiating warmth, confidence and mastery…

Why Nigerians no longer want to pay tax (2), by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

There is no doubt that trust was the main determiner in making earlier citizens pay taxes willingly. There was trust in the leadership of the day and the knowledge that the taxes collected would not be misappropriated. Now, even the gate man in a motor park or market sees the tax he collects at the gate as his. Some have their tickets. When such collection points take the remaining proceeds to the next point, it gets “edited” until the process reaches its final pool, where a large number is collected…

APC mourns with Jigawa Governor Over Loss of Mother and Son

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed deep condolences to the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, following the tragic deaths of his mother, Hajiya Maryam Umar Namadi, and his son, Abdulwahab Umar Namadi.   In a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, the party described the double loss as a devastating tragedy for the Governor and the people of Jigawa State.   Hajiya Maryam Umar Namadi, a respected matriarch and a source of inspiration within her family and community, passed away…

DISSECTING PRESIDENT’S MEDIA CHAT (1) By Abba Dukawa

Emporium Reporters

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s last week Monday media chat has sparked intense debate among Nigerians. Even before the interview was aired Nigerians lost interest in listening it.for those watches it argued the chat was pre-recorded and carefully edited, which have prevented tough questions from being asked. Some question the choice of media outlets, suggesting that the president should have engaged with a broader range of journalists to ensure a more representative and challenging discussion. While Other segments of people point out that the chat demonstrated his confidence and commitment to…

Masters of Bitterness versus Okpebholo’s Increasing Trust in Edo State By Fred Itua

Emporium Reporters

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon, the pig rises to power not by virtue of competence or vision but by undermining others, spreading falsehoods, and manipulating the system to serve his selfish interests. Like Napoleon, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, after its crushing defeat in the 2024 governorship election, has adopted a strategy of sabotage. Incapable of delivering themselves, they now pour scorn on Senator Monday Okpebholo’s administration, attempting to derail the progress he is committed to achieving.   Since losing the election, the PDP has displayed…

NAHCON in 2024: A Year of Achievements, Challenges, and Renewal. By Shafii Sani Mohammed

Emporium Reporters

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) experienced a transformative year in 2024, marked by operational successes, leadership changes, and steadfast efforts to enhance the Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims. Despite challenges, the Commission achieved remarkable milestones that strengthened its reputation as a reliable facilitator of the annual pilgrimage. NAHCON’s meticulous planning and execution of the 2024 Hajj operations resulted in several notable achievements: 1. Visa Issuance: For the first time, every pilgrim received their visa ahead of the commencement of airlift operations. This ensured a smooth start to the…