Category: Opinion

“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.” — Aristotle.   The Ass in the Lion’s Skin is Aesop’s story of a donkey who finds a lion’s skin abandoned in the forest. He wears it and begins to terrify other animals who mistake him for a lion. Delighted by the fear he inspires, the ass grows bold and starts roaming everywhere with counterfeit majesty. But one day, unable to contain himself,…

The reported neutralisation of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) globally and one of the most influential commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with scores of other terroristts, through a joint operation involving the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United States military, represents an extraordinary milestone in the long and arduous countertrerrosim efforts and war against terrorism in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin. If sustained and properly consolidated, this unprecedented feat may well be remembered as one of…

The controversy surrounding the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Rules has generated more heat than light. Unfortunately, much of the public conversation has been framed around personalities rather than principles, and emotions rather than institutional logic. Yet the real issue before the Senate is neither about Senator Godswill Akpabio nor Senator Adams Oshiomhole. It is about whether legislative institutions should evolve, strengthen themselves, and create continuity mechanisms that deepen parliamentary stability.   Every serious institution in the world periodically reviews its rules, procedures, and qualifications in response to emerging…

The race to the presidency in 2027 is getting more exciting. Last Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Governor Seyi Makinde formally threw his hat into the ring and organised a spectacle that could only have been funded by Oyo State taxpayers’ money. His declaration to contest for the topmost office in the forthcoming general election, however, is anything but surprising. Some political watchers had long sensed where he might be headed, given the somewhat convoluted politics that have seen him…

In the quiet corridors of international diplomacy, where handshakes carry the weight of history and signatures bind the destinies of nations, a singular truth has crystallized across the African continent: 53 out of 54 African nations stand firmly behind the One-China Principle. The lone outlier, Eswatini, clings to a diplomatic fiction that grows more untenable with each passing day—a kingdom living in self-imposed isolation, sustained by illusion, sustained by propaganda, and sustained by the desperate overtures of a Taiwanese leadership that has no seat at the global table.   The…

On Thursday last week, President Bola Tinubu perfectly played the role of the General of a troop going to war. He gave a pep talk to APC party troops marching state-wards for the primary election. It was a speech garnished with onions and flavoured by aromatic spices of currie and thyme. The eventual cuisine from the presidential pot exuded a tantalizing aroma that colonized the nose. The president was pleased with that “historic moment” as “the party we formed just like yesterday is gearing up for its fourth election cycle”.…

The Arbiter I want to believe Allah (SWT) brought me back to read my scorecard. He does that whenever He wants. All the more reason to forgive those who transgressed against you and seek forgiveness from those you have hurt. Importantly, to continue doing the good things one has been doing for humanity, as Dr Imdad of Al Shifa Hospital told me.   And this was why He answered the prayers of the multitude of people who interceded with Him on my behalf. People, some I knew, many I never…

South Africa has pursued post-apartheid policies, the consequences of which we are seeing today. The country has a terrifying, soft underbelly which is now completely hopeless and uncompetitive in today’s evolution; and therefore, it has to misdirect its aggression against soft targets such as fellow Black Africans. This is to be expected; for, at any time in history, those misdirecting their frustration look for easy, low-hanging fruits. The terror is not directed at just Nigerians; it is against all Africans and the disadvantaged within the country.   If we want…

Osun State is at a historic crossroads and must make a decisive choice on August 15. The state must either continue on the path of socioeconomic inertia or take a path less taken and dare to break the chain.   In the conventional wisdom, Osun should be doing so much better. It has the natural positioning of being surrounded by six adjoining states. A strategic imperative should have been to act as a feeder to those six neighbouring states, all of which have – within the Nigerian context – an…

Although, I am not so knowledgeable about aviation, I know it’s a capital intensive venture. So, I do not expect every state to own airport and airlines. Though states like Lagos can actually have an additional airport on the Island and it will be sustainable. Just like having a regional airline for the South East and South South geopolitical zones looks sustainable. The story of Overland Airways is telling about how airlines can create a regional niche. Another fantastic story I particularly revel is Ibom Air. May it grow in…