Opinion

Wednesday, 04 January 2023 05:52

Dying in the petrol queue - Niyi Osundare

I spent this year’s Christmas At a petro stationSome two miles from my NEPA-less* home And immeasurable distance from sanity The manger was dark When the Wise Men arrivedPious Joseph had no fuel To power the idle generator Hood-to-boot ahead of my own Were over a hundred cars in motionless miseryBehind, in a grotesque sprawl round a bend Was a multitude of metal I dared not count The “Subsidy” Saga was in the air again As it did last season and the seasons before“Appropriate Pricing”, “Landing Costs”, “Loading Fees”, and allied jargon Usurped front pages of the national tabloid Government…
My dear professor, brother and friend, Toyin Falola, A big congratulation to you on your 70th birthday today. As someone who had gone ahead of you in chronological time-span, let me welcome you to the septuagenarian circle. I sincerely thank God for granting you the grace and favour to get this far. Getting to this biblical age is not an easy journey. Our existential challenges as humans, and more critically as Nigerians, are many, and even all the more so, for someone like you who shoulders many responsibilities as a scholar, a custodian of culture, an elder in your own…
This is the period of the year when people make their New Year's resolution, which is usually a wish list of what they would like to achieve in the New Year. This may also include a list of bad things they want far away from them in the New Year. Usually, people want blessings, breakthroughs, favours, victory, accomplishments, destiny fulfilment and such other positive things to be their portion. Evils such as death, sickness or illness, disasters, misfortunes, defeat, bad or ill-luck, losses and setbacks are sent "back to sender" and must be wished as the portion of one's enemies.…
It is no longer news that Gudaji Kazaure, a House of Representatives member representing the Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi constituency of Jigawa State, has been trending over some papers he made public and a story that sounded like a tale by moonlight. The lawmaker is claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him and some other distinguished Nigerians into a secret committee with the mandate to investigate, reconcile and recover all stamp duties, which he said amounted to N89.09 trillion, realised from deductions by banks but was misappropriated. Neither the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the…
So, that mythical Nigerian year, 2023, is here at last? For Nigerians, 2023 is not just a year of newness as all years represent for mankind. It is a year with gross implications, political, economic and social. It is a year that is at once dreaded, expected, venerated and which evokes apprehension, as well as a feeling of de ja vu across board. It is a year of consequence to our existence as a people. A year that has been romanticized as the year of the Nigerian becoming, many analysts have even sacralized 2023 as the year that will determine…
New years and births are promises of a new beginning, which is why I think of those born on 1st of January as special. My imagination of New Year’s Day babies is that they enter the world with cheeky smiles. I believe that somewhere in the pre-world where humans choose their orí and date of birth, some selected 1st of January just so that the good fortunes we pray the supernatural forces would direct our way in the new year get folded into their arrival. If this myth is true — and who can say otherwise? — then it explains…
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come ~ Psalms 102:13. Introduction To God be all the glory! We are alive today and beholding the beauties of a brand new year only by God's special grace. Praise ye the Lord! I also thank all our reading audience for being a part of our lives and ministry in the course of the just ended year, loving us, responding to our love and encouraging us one way or the other. God bless you all. No doubt, the just ended year…
Jesus did not have a big problem with sinners. He had a big problem with hypocrites. So, He warns us: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1). Religious people are hypocrites. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus says about them: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:8-9). Hypocritical prayers God called me to a healing ministry, so I used to spend days fasting and praying…
It is a new year and the decibel of its roar, the chatter and cacophony is resonating the world over. We deserve to pat each other on the back for being among those fortunate to be part of a new year. Not everyone is as lucky for the renewal of the loan of Life, which we erroneously deem as a Gift. It is indeed a treasured loan; were it a gift we would have it ad-infinitum, but no one has been able to achieve such, because NOTHING survives the ravages of time, beside the Word of God. There is no…
“I started to have to say ‘Hello?’ at the register to get the cashier’s attention. ‘This is it,’ I thought. ‘I’ve become invisible.’” I didn’t notice at first. It’s hard to sense the lack of a thing, like when you don’t realize your headache is gone until an hour after it starts to recede. It’s not like I’d ever been a head-turner. Reasonably attractive, I’ve never stood out in the ways that make people either excited or uncomfortable. But I was pleasing enough (and pleasant enough) that I’d gather grins and glances. But somewhere in my early 50s, people just…
September 23, 2024

Construction, manufacturing sectors had negative outlook in August, CBN reports

Manufacturers in Nigeria expressed a lack of confidence in the nation’s economic outlook in August…
September 23, 2024

APC candidate Okpebholo wins Edo governorship election

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has…
September 23, 2024

Leadership moments that matter: How great leaders are made

I believe great leaders are made in the moments that matter—the little moments in time…
September 21, 2024

Father installs surveillance camera on daughter’s head to keep an eye on her

A Pakistani father fearing for his daughter’s safety made her wear a surveillance camera on…
September 16, 2024

Nearly 300 prisoners escape Maiduguri prison after floods

Devastating floods collapsed walls at a jail in Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria early last week,…
September 23, 2024

What to know after Day 942 of Russia-Ukraine war

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE Ukraine's air defence units destroy 71 Russian drones, Ukraine's air force says Ukraine's…
September 23, 2024

LUTH begins bone marrow transplant treatment for sickle cell patients

Following years of research and planning, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has successfully launched…
September 22, 2024

Dubois knocks down, knocks out Joshua to retain IBF heavyweight world title

In an astonishing upset, Daniel Dubois delivered a career-defining performance, defeating former two-time world heavyweight…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.