Ns-Opinion

Opinion

Thursday, 26 January 2017 12:42

Still guarding the concrete slab - Olusegun Adeniyi

Even when I am not so much into the social media, I have come to like WhatsApp because of the inspirational stories many users pass around on the platform from which I learn several lessons. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, I have also noticed that some Nigerians have been using the platform to spread alarming messages that are full of hate and incitement to violence, even when they still ask you to “pray”, apparently to the God they have created in their own image. But that is an issue for another day. The story for today is that of a concrete…

Wednesday, 25 January 2017 11:38

As Buhari becomes a 'clearing agent' - Farooq Kperogi

We have an "anti-corruption" president who blatantly lied just to defend the corruption of his close aides. In his letter to the Senate "clearing" Babachir David Lawal of multi-million naira "grass clearing" corruption, the president said the senate didn't invite Lawal to defend himself. Lie. He WAS invited via a letter, which his secretary acknowledged, and via three newspaper adverts. But he spurned the invitation. The president said only three senate committee members signed the letter asking for Lawal's resignation and prosecution. Another lie. Seven senate committee members did. A man who knowingly and intentionally lies has no integrity. Worse,…

Wednesday, 25 January 2017 02:09

The righteous Nigerian and the rationality of corruption - Pius Adesanmi

Can Nigeria overcome corruption? Will Nigeria survive corruption? The optimistic, overconfident Nigerian who offered me a “no shaking yes” to both questions was only able to do so because he successfully outed me as I tried to remain incognito and maintain a low profile at the hotel pool in Lagos. Retreating incognito to a hotel in Lagos to assess our warfront strategies in matters Nigeriana is something I often do with Omoyele Sowore. This time in the summer of 2016, I was alone in a secluded corner of the poolside, trying not to look like me. I didn’t want the…

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 15:36

Big Brother Naija show in South Africa: A gratuitous insult on Nigeria - Adegbenro Adebanjo

Tell me it is not true. No it must be a ‘January fool’ Joke. Please TELL me that the news making the round that the Big Brother Naija 2017 House being broadcast live to viewers across the world is located and being hosted and filmed in South Africa. If it is true then this is a great insult to Nigeria and those behind this disloyalty must halt it forthwith. How can a television show involving Nigerians, about Nigeria with Nigerian culture and motifs be shot in South Africa. It does not just make any sense. South Africa hosting Nigerian Big…

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 02:57

Once upon a time in Gambia - Reuben Abati

I have very vivid memories of my last visit to The Gambia. This was in 2013 when President Goodluck Jonathan paid a two-day visit to the country. In the course of that visit, President Jonathan commissioned the new Chancery of the Nigerian Embassy in Banjul, and also met with the Nigerian community, in addition to the usual bilateral meetings. Nigeria and The Gambia have very strong cultural and diplomatic relations. We were quartered at a very nice, hospitable sea-side hotel, the Coco Ocean Resort. One of the first things I noticed was the large population of female tourists, lounging by…

Monday, 23 January 2017 02:04

Start of the Trump years: What's in it it for Africa? - Ogbonna Nwuke

I mopped at the TV screen as Donald Trump took a walk along the designated parade route, clutching unto his wife's right hand and waving to the enthusiastic crowds. It was like a scene out of a well scripted Hollywood movie. Can't really remember the name of the US musician who wrote a great song about life in America just as the Ronald Reagan years in the White House got underway. I am not even sure I remember the tittle of the song either. But still, I vividly remember the lyrics of that song which said America was staring at…

Sunday, 22 January 2017 17:06

Why Buhari ran(n) to Gambia, away from Rann – Reno Omokri

President Muhammadu Buhari wants to intervene in The Gambia to prevent a breakdown of law and order which will lead to a humanitarian crisis. The Gambia has a population of 1.8 million people, while Kaduna has a population of 6 million people of which over 2 million of those are in Southern Kaduna. Till date, the only person who has died in The Gambia is President elect Barrow’s son, Habibu Barrow, who was bitten by a dog. But in Southern Kaduna, hundreds of people have bitten the dust. If in truth President Buhari really wants to prevent a humanitarian crisis,…

Saturday, 21 January 2017 16:04

Buhari in London: Medical trip or vacation? - Vitus Ozoke

Nigerians should pray for the good health of their president. Buhari's trip to the United Kingdom at this time of the year, with everything going on in Nigeria and the world, can only be health related. It cannot be vacation. If it is vacation, then everyone involved in the decision to send Buhari on vacation at this time, with everything going on in Nigeria and the world, should be summarily dismissed. How can the president proceed on vacation days after dozens were killed and scores wounded when Nigerian warplanes mistakenly dropped bombs on a refugee camp in Rann Village of…

Friday, 20 January 2017 02:26

Africa’s unique vulnerability to violent extremism - Mohamed Yahya

Africa bears the brunt of lives lost, economies ruined, and relationships fractured by terrorism. It is the continent where al-Qaeda launched its war against the United States in 1998, by bombing the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; where Boko Haram kidnapped 276 Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014; and where 147 students were killed in their sleep at Kenya’s Garissa University in 2015. While these attacks did garner the world’s attention, most people do not realize that, in the past five years alone, 33,000 people have died in terrorism-related violence in Africa. Violent extremism and groups espousing…

Thursday, 19 January 2017 17:10

Waiting on Donald Trump - Jideofor Adibe

Tomorrow, Friday January 2017, Donald Trump will formally assume office as the 45th President of the United States. At 70, he will be the oldest person to be elected the President of the United States, beating the record set by Ronald Reagan who became President at 69. The billionaire businessman (worth $3.7bn according to Forbes) will also make history as the first person elected President of the USA with zero government or military experience. But what will his presidency portend for Africa or Nigeria? True, Mr Trump said pretty awful things about Africans and about every other person who disagreed…

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Wednesday, 18 January 2017 15:26

As America and world await businessman Trump - Folu Olamiti

Two days from now, Donald Trump will step into the White House as the 45th President of the United States. The Americans are in fever pitch anticipation, waiting for a man whose conduct, so far, has been contrary to the norm. Trump is a novelty in American politics, nay the world. His victory shocked the pundits and soothsayers whose predictions never gave Trump a chance. Why? They could not imagine a man with such crude dispositions and unorthodox style would garner votes to victory. Talk about his mannerisms, they are far away from being normal. Many dismiss his penchant of…

Wednesday, 18 January 2017 02:39

That Ajimobi's verbal accident- New Independence Group

In the last few days, a video in which the Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi threw decorum into the wind, daring protesting students of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho (LAUTECH) to do their worst, went viral. The outrage generated, so far, by the embarrassing conduct, even by the largely mediocre standard of public conduct of Nigerian politicians, represents a new low in leadership disdain for the governed in the political space. For his unpardonable indiscretion, there has been several calls on the governor to apologize, with some canvassing the far-fetched (at least by Nigerian standard) option of resignation. While New…

Wednesday, 18 January 2017 02:35

As Ajimobi's 'okra' becomes taller than 'Onire' - Dotun Oyeniyi

Ogbonaya Onu, the current Minister of Science and Technology was the Governor when I was a Youth Corper in Abia State. We were being underfed at the orientation camp and a few of us from OAU, Ile Ife, including my friend Lawal Ademola Abideen spearheaded a protest. It took us just three days to mobilise and on the appointed day, as soldiers stormed in to our dormitory to wake us up, we barked at them to retreat. Grab plates, buckets, spoons and anything at all and started to drum with them, accompanied with aluta songs. Destination was Umahia, no stopping…

Tuesday, 17 January 2017 14:45

MMM, Sambisa and the boy died - Reuben Abati

“Happy New Year, my brother” “What do you mean happy new year, more than two weeks into the New Year. Have I not been in touch with you since January 1?” “But for you the New Year has just started. Your January 1 was not on January 1” “Looks like you have started taking something. I must inform your wife.” “I say Happy New Year to you.” “Okay, same to you.” “You think I don’t know what you have been going through? Your wife told me you have not been yourself since those Mavrodi Mundia Moneybox people suspended their scheme.…

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