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Opinion

Thursday, 29 June 2017 04:36

Confederation is the solution - Tola Adeniyi

Former Governor of Ogun State the late veteran Journalist Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo was a most vocal canvasser for a Confederation structure for Nigeria in those days. And in solid agreement with him were the likes of Elder statesman Chief Anthony Eronsele Enahoro, former Senate leader and Populist Dr Olusola Saraki, Chief Mbadiwe of the Timber and caliber fame, and Esaoke Orator the late Chief Bola Ige and several other distinguished as well as ordinary Nigerians who believed that the present wobbling structure was unwieldy and unsustainable. The myriad of problems confronting the geopolitical space called Nigeria today could be…

Thursday, 29 June 2017 04:15

Too much of everything - Dare Babarinsa

It is good that many of the old guards who once held courts at the sanctum of power are joining the call for the restructuring of our great country. The latest convert is General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, our former military ruler who has been seeking traction within the country’s democratic milieu since 1999. Babangida knows Nigeria and he has been at the receiving end of the occasional inclement temper of our country. It is good he is backing the call for a debate on our country’s future. Chief Tola Adeniyi, veteran journalist and former Managing Director of the old Daily…

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 04:40

Buhari and the Hausa language - Reuben Abati

“Baba just fall my hand! Ha, wetin.” “Which Baba?” “Baba Bubu, the President of all Nigeria.” “In the spirit of this season, may Almighty Allah (SAW) grant him good health and quick recovery. It is part of our duty to pray for our leaders. Only infidels pray for evil.” “My friend, the fasting season has ended. Stop fasting after Ramadan. I am saying something serious. Was it right for the President of Nigeria to address the Nigerian people in Hausa? “ “Hausa? Me no hear am oh. Have they changed the country’s official language?” “Yes. Hausa.” “Baba just enter radio…

Tuesday, 27 June 2017 03:54

There’s reason to doubt Saudi Arabia’s charming new crown prince - WP Editorial

Mohammed bin Salman, the 31-year-old who last week was named crown prince of Saudi Arabia, has been working assiduously to win friends and influence people in Washington. He’s acquired a lot of admirers, including in the Trump White House, by outlining plans to reform and modernize the Saudi economy, loosen domestic social controls and — not least — undertake tens of billions of arms purchases in the United States. Yet as Prince Salman formally takes position to succeed his 81-year-old father, King Salman, there is growing reason for doubt about his capabilities. His market-oriented economic reforms look stalled. Meanwhile, his…

Monday, 26 June 2017 17:54

Trump meets Modi: Budding romance or one-night stand? - Josh Rogin

President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would seem to be kindred spirits. But despite a lot of sweet talk as Modi arrived in Washington for a White House meeting Monday, the question remains whether his dalliance with Trump will be a one-night stand or will blossom into a full-on romance. Trump and Modi are alike in many ways. They both came to power on populist, nationalist waves with promises to confront Islamist terrorism and stand up to China. Both rule large democracies with a clear interest in increasing their security and economic and diplomatic cooperation. Their social media…

Monday, 26 June 2017 17:52

Because the president is not around - Lasisi Olagunju

The president is not around and the country is very adrift. But no one is blaming him for the national drift. Nigerians are very considerate people. They don’t make unnecessary demand of their leaders no matter how dire their conditions are. When they love you, you cannot be wrong. Like a woman madly in love, they allow you to handle them anyhow. They even invent excuses for you, assisting you to escape blame for failures. The president has been away for over 40 days now. He has not sent home any photo to appease our curiosity. But these times are…

Monday, 26 June 2017 03:04

Madam Carol Eno Effiong: A case of justice on its ugly head - Ebun-olu Adegboruwa

Madam Carol Eno Effiong, is a widow and a retired nurse. She packaged her little pension and gratuity and partook in the bid for Festac 77 houses, through the Federal Housing Authority and won. She was thus allocated a five bedroom detached house in Festac. She moved into that only house, as a retiree, with her only daughter, also named Carol. Just one day in 1996, Madam Effiong discovered that her documents of title to the house were missing. She searched for them to no avail. So she reported to the FHA and also placed a Caveat in the Vanguard…

Sunday, 25 June 2017 15:48

Saudi Arabia’s game of thrones - Bernard Haykel

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has just replaced the 57-year-old Muhammad bin Nayif with his 31-year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman, as crown prince, completing a process of power centralization that began with Salman’s accession to the throne in January 2015. Prince Mohammed, commonly known as MBS in Western circles, is the king’s favorite son. By appointing him as crown prince, Salman, who is now 81, has signaled a clear break from a decades-old tradition of building consensus among the leading sons of the Saudi state’s founder, the late King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. In structural terms, Saudi Arabia is no longer a…

Sunday, 25 June 2017 04:29

How viable is the state of Biafra? Emmanuel-Francis Nwaolisa Ogomegbunam

First let me start with a dose of reality, an actual Biafran state recognised by the comity of nations world-wide is impossible. Why?Because no Nigerian leader will ever - and I repeat ever - want to be the one that presided over the 'balkanisation' of the country. And Nigeria, for all its faults, is slightly important on the global stage. Secondly, Biafra is economically a long shot and has been one ever since Gowon created the twelve states. Another dose of reality given the Southern minority tribes is that given the choice between Nigeria and Igbo majority rule, they'll pick…

Sunday, 25 June 2017 04:25

The amazing works of Kanu Agabi - Ebun-olu Adegboruwa

I had cause to visit a friend's Chambers in Abuja, so I needed help to locate the place. He had sent me the address as: Trinity Towers, Mabushi, FCT, Abuja. So I had to ask another friend to direct me. Upon showing him the address, he smiled, and then I became curious. Why the smile, I asked? Then he told me the following amazing story of human kindness and philanthropy. The Trinity Towers, is owned by Elder Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation. It is a massive edifice of several floors, occupied solely by lawyers. No…

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Friday, 23 June 2017 04:16

The evil of media trial - NIG

There is need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to guide against whipping up public sentiments against judicial officers whenever it found itself on the wrong side of judicial verdicts, as attempts to demonize the judges and intimidate the judiciary bode ill for the administration of justice in the country. It is, indeed, a matter of regret that we have, as a group, come to the conclusion that the various prosecutors of alleged economic crimes in the country tend to prefer the mob-induced trial through the media space - where they grandstand and play to the gallery - to the…

Friday, 23 June 2017 04:15

The new ‘generation shift’ mantra - Jideofor Adibe

Since the election of Emmanuel Macron, 39, as the youngest President of France, several Nigerian writers have suddenly rediscovered an old mantra: ‘generation shift’. With Buhari’s official age at 74, these writers warn that Macron is an emphatic indication that the ‘old order’ is crumbling fast, and that the ‘new generation’ is impatient to take over. It is of course sometimes difficult to know whether the excitement over Macron is because of the huge age gap between him and his wife (his wife, Brigitte, is 64 years old). Nigerians love mantras - statements or slogans repeated frequently enough that they…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:09

The kidnapper is nearer to you than he appears - Dare Babarinsa

Olapade Ojo-Odide has been missing since April 24, 2017. Ojo-Odide was driving alone in his car on Elele Road, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, when he was accosted by some hoodlums along the way. They seized him and his car, a Toyota Prado. Ojo-Odide is a general manager with the Dangote Group of Companies. He was in charge of Delta State. He also serves as a part-time pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG. At the last Holy Ghost Congress of the RCCG, on Friday June 2, 2017, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseers of the church, rained curses…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:07

The road to restructuring or ruin - Opeyemi Agbaje

Nigeria is on the path to a restructuring of the Nigerian state to re-establish the principles of federalism as our founding fathers freely decided in the negotiations that led to independence. That federal ideal was subverted by the military as they sought to transform Nigeria into a unitary state which now threatens to undermine Nigeria’s unity and stability. The required restructuring will involve devolution of powers back to the states or regions and drastic reduction of the matters contained in the exclusive legislative list in our constitution (which are restricted to the federal government) with more matters returning to the…

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