Category: Opinion

Yahaya Adoza Bello became the Governor of Kogi State at the young age of 40. He presently holds the record as the youngest person to preside over a state since the return of democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999. His emergence as Governor also has some form of divine intervention. The man that was actually elected governor at the polls, Abubakar Audu, died before he could be sworn in. Bello was his replacement by his party, the All Progressives Congress.   His being from a minority group in the state…

One day, I will have the courage to ask the immaculate Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, how he feels each time he travels on the horrible Ibadan-Ife road. Ben Okri, ‘The Famished Road’ storyteller, finds his own ‘road’ a torment – he says it “leads home and then away from it, without end.” Okri thinks the road a torment because he meets it “with too many signs and no direction.” The Ife-Ibadan road has signs, it has directions – and I find them very treacherously significant because they interlock…

After a period of relative silence, I am compelled to address the recent tragedy that unfolded in Rivers State, prompting me to speak out once again.   During my online vigil with a particular church, I came across a distressing video on WhatsApp. In the video, a young man, his voice filled with pain and desperation, called out to the Governor of the State for help as vehicles, both commercial and private, went up in flames.   The incident occurred around 8:45 pm on a Friday, leaving behind a scene…

The challenge of purposeful leadership is recognizing that today’s fast-changing, complex, and unpredictable environment necessitates a different kind of leadership. The leadership that puts the people first. A leadership built on purposeful-progressive inclusivity. That which is exemplified by a leader who understands that his key role is to create energy and momentum, mainly when dire circumstances occur. A leader who hungers to help others see possibilities and potential, and creating inspirations that are full of achievable goals.   The current parliament boasts the presence of eight political parties, making it…

On Thursday last week, I had just arrived in Enugu for the funerals of Ezinne Margaret Nebechi Nwomeh of Ozalla in Enugu state when another news of demise hopped in like a demonic apparition. Big brother and friend, Ayogu Eze, senator who represented Enugu North, had passed on.   I met Eze 21 years ago there in Enugu. Once the commissioner for information in the first term, I felt it a great honour to serve with him in the state. Blessed with a gift of the garb, Eze was detribalised…

The enchanter recited the incantation with utmost fury: “River Niger and River Benue, the confluence is in Kogi State. Except say River Niger and River Benue no come meet for Kogi; if River Niger and River Benue come meet for Kogi, dem no go fit arrest Bello… Dem dey use EFCC pursue am, dem no go succeed o. Dem go lay siege for im house for Abuja… Except say I no be born of Igala kingdom… EFCC dey front, you dey back; you dey back, dem dey front; you dey…

In my last two write-ups, I narrated my sojourn to Saudi Arabia, where I ended up at the Makkah Saudi-German Hospital in search of Medicare.   After extolling the virtues and efficiency of the Saudi model, I asked the pertinent question: Why can’t we replicate the model? I went as far as requesting state governors to build one each in their states and engage the Saudi-German Hospital to run it for them for some time.   It was just after the publication that I came across a statement by Katsina…

I was filled with regrets after watching a documentary by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) titled ‘Fuel Subsidy: Lifting a Nation’s Burden’. I started ruminating over what might have been. In the opening, Dame Winifred Akpani, founder and CEO of NorthWest Petroleum and Gas Company, reminds us of how fuel subsidy came into being. It was in the mid-1970s when oil boom made us believe we were so rich we could buy the entire world. It probably made sense at the time that as Nigeria…

In an era where the sanctity and stability of marriage are besieged by numerous challenging dynamics, exploring innovative and time tested strategies to manage and enhance marital relationships is vital. This article aims to provide academic insights and practical applications for scholars, pastors, counsellors, and married individuals striving to foster a healthier, more vibrant marriage grounded in Christian beliefs and values. Through adopting these strategies, couples can work towards a resilient, fulfilling union that honours both their commitments and their faith.   Marriage, often termed as a sacred union in…

It’s not geopolitics, nepotism, or religion that will be the cause of the collapse of the largest black nation on the planet if the Nigerian state crumbles. Corruption is what’s going to make that happen if something drastic is not done before it’s too late. Countries like the People’s Republic of China execute corrupt officials and some other countries take other extreme measures to keep corruption at bay while Nigeria pays only lip service to the corruption fight.   The whole foundation of Nigeria, its identity, and its statecraft have…