The Balewa road Tinubu is travelling By Festus Adedayo

An ancient Yoruba anecdote narrates the destructive nature of the tongue. Its moral is specifically targeted at leaders who take unconscionable decisions as dictated by their fleeting passion. It is the tragic life and reign of King Odarawu. Odarawu was an Alaafin in the old Oyo Empire. His brief reign in the late seventeenth century, after he succeeded his father, Aláàfin Ajagbo, made him the first Alaafin to be rejected by the Oyomesi, Oyo Empire’s council of state. Odarawu was a prisoner of his tongue and fiery temper. These led…

When bandits took over Ondo State By Festus Adedayo

Ondo State was in the news for the bad reason last week. A gale of killings, kidnapping and demand for ransom swept through the Akure North and South local governments of the state. Armed assailants were said to have stormed Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Ademekun communites of the Akure North Local Government Area. By the time the flakes had settled, deaths, caked blood and destruction dotted the landscape, with weeping, wailing and gnashing of the teeth as the victims and their families’ companions. From 20 villagers allegedly…

Nasir El-Rufai and the philosophy of nothing By Festus Adedayo

Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai caused a mild stir last week. Though the resignation of his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and gravitation towards the Social Democratic Party (PDP) did not come as a shock, the ruckus that attended them have been instructive. Torrents of negative comments have been heaped up as reactions to his decamping. And they are expected. Brilliant politician, intelligent and renowned for his organizational ability, El-Rufai is one politician you would love to hate. Since 1999, he has been a factor, either…

Wike’s ICT Gadgets in FCT, BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

The quest to upgrade , promote and advance Secondary Education by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike through technological advancement is undaunted, not minding some drawbacks brought about by the operators before his assumption of duty. Under his special arrangements and Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that is attracting massive infrastructure development, provision of equipment and manpower to the FCT secondary schools by discouraging the manual , local and outdated infrastructures, hence embarked by Wike led administration through massive construction, renovation and…

Natasha: The Conspiracy of Vultures, by Hassan Gimba

“It’s a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something the best people have always done.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe.   Not as many people know the popular novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), which depicts the harsh conditions experienced by enslaved African Americans, as they know its author, Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896). She was an American author and abolitionist. Coming from the religious Beecher family, her book reached an audience of millions as both a novel and a play.…

2027: A crossroads of choice By abiodun KOMOLAFE

We are at midterm, which means that the next electoral cycle has already started. Unfortunately, governance will begin to slow down as politicking and jockeying for advantage become more pronounced, distracting from the real work of administration and the quest to achieve sustainable development.   The ruling party currently holds a significant advantage, facing an ill-defined and unfocused array of interest groups lacking cohesion. Unlike parliamentary systems, presidential systems don’t truly have an ‘opposition’ concept. Instead, they offer a focused alternative platform, presenting a distinct and more positive stance than…

Ekiti’s next leap! By abiodun KOMOLAFE

One of the off-cycle elections next year will take place in Ekiti State, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji will face reelection. Oyebanji has several strengths to leverage when campaigning begins, particularly his efforts to redirect the state’s political economy in a positive direction, as widely acknowledged by conventional wisdom. Ekiti State has navigated the current economic transformation in very steady ways. The state’s poverty level is relatively manageable, rather than crippling. The governor’s strategic intervention in agriculture has built up buffers of price-modulating as well as supply-adjustment mechanisms. This approach has…

Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace: The Right Man Steering VON to Global Excellence ,By Lukman Laleye Babalola

In today’s fast-paced media landscape, leadership in public broadcasting demands more than just routine administration it requires vision, strategic engagement, and the ability to shape narratives that project national identity on a global stage. In Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Nigeria has found a leader who embodies these qualities. A thoroughbred journalist, Security Analyst, and Public Affairs Strategist, Ndace’s career span decades in print, broadcast, and digital media. His sharp analytical skills, deep understanding of Nigeria’s geopolitical landscape, and ability to communicate complex issues with clarity have earned him respect across…

Natashagate: Suspension in the eyes of court ruling By Abba Dukawa

Despite the position of the Court of Appeal in the case of the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly Vs Hon Rifkatu Samson Danna (2017) 49 W.R.N that a lawmaker is a representative of his people whose membership of the House is guaranteed by the Constitution and not by any other person or persons, the Senate and its leadership have continued to use suspension as an instrument to oppress, intimidate and whip lawmakers into line. Sadly, the National Assembly has continued to ignore the position of the courts on…

UBEC; Targeting Zero Out of School Children OOSC to Improve Basic Education in Nigeria, BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

With the determination to turn the tide of negative figure of Out of School Children OOSC been bandied by experts across the globe with particular reference to Nigeria put at 17 Million, were concerted efforts to reduce the trend appeared insurmountable , the new leadership of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC under Dr Aisha Garba , the World Bank trained Education expert has vowed to reverse the trend. With both local and international exposure to tackling the basis of Out of School Children OOSC conundrum along with both local…