By Bola Bolawole

The Yoruba traditional institution and the Obas and Chiefs that perch on it are no longer what they used to be in terms of effective power and royal – even regal – bearing and esteem. In those days, an Oba is someone who sits (perches) atop everything (O ba l'ori ohungbogbo). He bore effective rule but today he only reigns. He has no effective powers, not even over those that are still referred to as his “subjects” In the real sense, Yoruba Obas have no subjects anymore; everyone is now a citizen with equal rights and privileges as the Oba himself, and those rights must be respected by all, the Oba inclusive. Any Oba that breaches the rights of a citizen will face the wrath of the law.

(A Letter To President Tinubu)

By

Enajite Enajero, Ph.D.

His Excellency

Bola Ahmed Tinubu President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Dear Mr. President,

I must first congratulate you for becoming the President of Nigeria. Nigeria is faced with so many challenges. The problem facing Nigeria is not only that of reducing poverty, but also that of saving a chunk of humanity by creating the capacity to coalesce the most populous Black Country into the comity of developed nations.

By Bolanle Bolawole

A saying of our people is that 20 children cannot pull or play together for 20 unbroken years. This is not because they may not be willing to do so but because circumstances beyond their control will compel them to do otherwise. Many strings will put them apart and they will go in different directions whether they like it or not.

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

Everyday, something happens that changes Nigeria, even if all it offers is more despondency. The passing of 27-year-old musician, Mohbad, makes the point again that Nigeria is a great example for changes that would not result in development.

By Bolanle Bolawole

The earthquake in Morocco, which killed thousands and left many more homeless, led me to ask questions. About the same time, floods in neighbouring Libya also reportedly killed its own thousands, leaving many more homeless.

By Emeka Obasi

Green Eagles were good enough for a first African Nations Cup gold at Ethiopia 1976. It was their second time, after a disastrous debut in Ghana thirteen years earlier. From Group B, Dire Dawa, they left Addis Ababa with the bronze.

By Steve Osuji

AN IMPOSTER AND USURPER:

Once upon a time in a faraway land, there lived a king who hijacked the stool. It happened that the throne was vacant and all the heirs began to joust for the grand stool. A particular parvenu in the land who had no known link to royalty nor to the kingdom for that matter, jumped into the ring.

By Funke Egbemode

Tunji – T.J for short- had always seen a bright future for himself in Nigeria. Not even SAPA could make him JAPA. He knew where he wanted to go and had a map even Google would be proud of, of how he’d get to his destination. So, while all his friends and peers were testing the waters of cybercrime and considering yahoo-plus and its gory gruesome details, T.J had his eyes peeled for how he’d move from his ‘near Lagos’ Boys Quarters’ apartment to Ikoyi, Lagos. Yes, you heard that right; from extreme poverty to the five-star neighbourhood. How? He was going to find himself a rich man with a single-and searching daughter. Lucky T.J, he got both in one fell swoop. He found both a rich man and his single-and searching daughter.

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

THE story is told of a new convert to one of these new churches where the pastors froth and fall in their gymnastics with the Almighty’s words as they extort attendants. He was intoxicated by the volume of promises that he imbibed and ready to do whatever the pastor said. He promised himself in the course of the service that he would be immediate.

By Toni Kan

HE was a great man and as youngsters say on social media, I have the receipts to prove it.

By Bola Bolawole

It's been four months since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office; in that interval, he has spoken and acted on a variety of issues. He has removed fuel subsidy and has brutally devalued the Naira, both policies with dire consequences for all and sundry. He has fired; he has also hired. He has made his first trip overseas as president and both the United Nations and the United States’ president are eagerly waiting to receive him. But we are yet to hear from him on the unsettled business of ASUU. If Tinubu or anyone else thinks the Muhammadu Buhari administration effectively settled the ASUU matter before leaving office, such a person only deceives himself. What Buhari did was to leave a smouldering fire on his rooftop while he fiddled like Rome's King Nero.