Ns-Opinion

Opinion

Friday, 31 May 2019 04:23

Buhari’s inauguration: Another missed opportunity - Jideofor Adibe

President Muhammadu Buhari made world history yesterday when he probably became the first elected President in the world in modern times to be inaugurated into office without giving an inaugural speech. He gave no reason why he did not deliver an in inaugural speech. Mr Buhari was sworn into a second term in office by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Tanko Muhammad in a low key ceremony which kept to time and ended by 11:22 am. In USA (from where we borrowed much of our current democratic practice), every American President has given an inaugural address both for his first…

Monday, 27 May 2019 04:32

We must all be Fulani - Fredrick Nwabufo

Conspiracy theories are the palm oil of Nigeria’s politics. They give taste to falsehood, tension, fear and unrest. And often, they are ignorantly eaten, regurgitated and spewed by the unwary. On December 11, 2013, former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a caustic missive entitled, ‘Before it is too late’, searing former President Jonathan and his administration. He alleged that Jonathan was “clannish” and that he was promoting an Ijaw agenda. He also alleged that the immediate past president was arming militants, and that he had pencilled down 1000 people for crucifixion. Obasanjo surmised that Jonathan was training a special killer squad…

Monday, 27 May 2019 04:25

The global consequences of a Sino-American cold war - Nouriel Roubini

What started as a trade war between the United States and China is quickly escalating into a death match for global economic, technological, and military dominance. If the two countries' leaders cannot manage the defining relationship of the twenty-first century responsibly, the entire world will bear the costs of their failure. A few years ago, as part of a Western delegation to China, I met President Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. When addressing us, Xi argued that China’s rise would be peaceful, and that other countries – namely, the United States – need not worry about…

Sunday, 26 May 2019 05:05

Buhari’s second term: Ain't no stopping us now, we're on the move - Femi Adesina

Those who were young (men-about-town) in the 80s will remember the 1979 hit track by McFadden & Whitehead, titled Ain't no stopping us now. The lyrics goes thus: Ain't no stopping us now! We're on the move! Ain't no stopping us now! We've got the groove! And if you ponder and reflect on the political journey of President Muhammadu Buhari, right from 2003, when he threw his hat into the ring, till now, there have been spirited attempts to stop him. It got to a head in the build up to the 2019 elections, when a pernicious confederacy was put…

Sunday, 26 May 2019 05:04

Devil is Nigeria’s largest employer of labour - Dele Sobowale

“The Devil finds work for idle hands.”— Old adage. One report which we don’t need United Nations, World Bank, International Labour Organisation, ILO, or any other global or domestic organisation to render is the one about who is our largest employer of labour at this point in time in our history. By a wide margin, the king of darkness is now finding work for more people, old and young, male or female, Christian, Muslim or any other religion, North and South, irrespective of ethnic group than any other employer of labour. For all we know, Satan might even be engaging…

Sunday, 26 May 2019 04:59

Who will be Nigeria’s last President? - Festus Adedayo

I have this haunch that by the time President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office after his second term, there may either be no Nigeria as properly so called or the nagging questions of our existence would have led to the ultimate violent resolution of our identity and leadership crises. Two issues that cropped up during the week that just ended cemented this haunch of mine. One was the establishment of the radio station by Federal Government which is said to be principally devoted to Fulani herdsmen; the other being ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s antagonistic engagement of and with what he called the…

Saturday, 25 May 2019 04:29

Looking again at “revolution” - Edwin Madunagu

The word, “revolution”, is currently enjoying a political and lexical rehabilitation with Nigerians, especially the youths. Though still seen as treasonable, “revolution” is no longer easily associated with evil or lack of patriotism. The type of rehabilitation that “revolution” now enjoys reminds me of the euphoric celebration of “new democracy” in the last decade of the 20thcentury, allegedly following the collapse of Communist Party-led governments in Eastern Europe and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Unlike a “coup d’etat” against which the youths still react negatively – or at best, with mixed feelings – “revolution” no longer evokes fear. This…

Saturday, 25 May 2019 04:28

The courts must declare Atiku president (2) - Femi Aribisala

When APC discovered that Mr Atiku Abubakar had the authentic votes of the 2019 presidential election, retrieved from the INEC back server, the party went into panic mode. Their first reaction was to demand that Atiku be prosecuted for hacking into INEC computer. But this position was self-defeating. If indeed Atiku was guilty of this infraction, that would, in effect, authenticate the figures he released. APC spokesman, Mr Festus Keyamo, then insisted Atiku must have posted fake results in INEC server. To lend weight to this far-fetched line of defense, he petitioned Inspector General of Police and Director General of…

Friday, 24 May 2019 04:46

Knives out for Obasanjo - Jideofor Adibe

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has a way of falling out with every government in power – and he has literarily played a role in the making of most of the leaders of the country since he stepped aside from office as a military Head of State in 1979. Since his 16-page letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2018 asking him not to seek a second term in office, there has been no love lost between the two retired Generals. Mr Buhari not only ignored the advice, but went ahead to contest and win the election. With that, Buhari became…

Thursday, 23 May 2019 05:38

No Yoruba president in Nigeria for another 20 years - Femi Aribisala

It will be the turn of a Southerner to be president again in 2023. That Southerner must, without controversy, be an Igbo man. If Nigeria were to survive the ticking time bomb of the rigged 2019 presidential election, one of the prerequisites would be that there cannot be a Yoruba president in the country for at least another 20 years. Otherwise, we would be further stoking the flames of disintegration. The Yoruba have provided the president in 8 of the last 20 years. They have also held the vice-presidency for another 4 years. That will do for the next 20…

More...

Wednesday, 22 May 2019 04:43

Power? No, thanks, I’m good - Tim Kreider

The wish to have power over others is altogether alien to me; I just don’t get it, any more than I get why anyone wants to have kids or play Settlers of Catan. Even sexual fantasies based on power dynamics don’t particularly appeal to me. Why would I want to boss other people around? What would I make them do? My taxes, maybe? It just sounds awkward, and like a huge hassle. I don’t even like being waited on by people I’d rather have a beer with; I’m uncomfortable holding the meager (and mostly illusory) power of grades over my…

Sunday, 19 May 2019 04:22

Your Excellency, the chickens are home to roost - Festus Adedayo

In the next few days, specifically nine days from today, the party will be over between many of the current state governors and their mandates to steer the ships of their respective states. Four, or in some cases, eight years which, on May 29, 2011 or 2015, looked like yesterday and the day of their accomplishment which seemed like an eternity, have run their full course! Juxtaposed with the seeming brevity of human life and man’s fleeting sojourn in this earthly assignment, the time to exit the Government House, for these privileged few out of about 180 million Nigerians, in…

Friday, 17 May 2019 05:33

As Buhari jumps into the ‘true federalism’ bandwagon - Jideofor Adibe

President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent call for ‘true federalism’ has left many people confused and wondering what his real intentions were. At an award ceremony organised by the All Progressives’ Governors’ Forum at Presidential Villa, Abuja on May 10 2019, the President was quoted as saying: “We remain committed to improving the welfare of the Nigerian people. Your Excellences, it will be belabouring the point to say that true federalism is necessary at this juncture of our political and democratic evolution.” Though Mr Buhari did not explain what he meant by ‘true federalism’ – and many proponents of the term have…

Thursday, 16 May 2019 05:19

Microfinance Banks and NIPOST’s core mandate - Abiodun Komolafe

I read an interesting Editorial piece in The NationNewspapers of Monday, May 6, 2019, entitled: ‘Postmaster or Banker.’ The newspaper specifically advised Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) to “focus on its core mandate”, instead of venturing into the “trickiest” business of ‘opening 2,000 Microfinance Bank (MFB) outlets.’As a concerned Nigerian, I have decided to make some few comments. To begin with, Nigeria is an interesting country which drama will not stop amazing the world. The interestingness of her Nigeriannessderives its oxygen from the fact that previous governments have been known to spew out policy statements and ideas as if they are…

Page 197 of 274

Opinion

More...

Search

Most Read

Editorial

News

Business

Politics

Opinion

Features

Strangely

Crime

Wars

SCIENCE & TECH

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sports

VIDEOS