THANKS PRESIDENT TINUBU, BUT GO BEYOND TOKENISM

By Chido Nwakanma (on Public Sphere)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu displayed outstanding dribbling skills pre-Christmas and scored a goal for the government. It was a positive step. However, because it has the features of Maradona’s Hand-of-God goal, prejudice, short-termism, and reluctant acceptance cloud it. Nevertheless, President Tinubu deserves applause.

THAT ASSURANCE STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT, TINUBU

By Bolanle Bolawole

Last Thursday, 16th March, 2023, the news media was awash with a statement from the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, titled “Nigeria: At the cusp of renewed hope”; I agree but also disagree with some aspects of the statement.

THE 'EMILOKAN' SYNDROME

By Muyiwa Adetiba

When Asiwaju Bola Tinubu made that famous ‘emilokan’ remark as part of a rambling, incoherent speech, it was to a small audience in Ogun State. But the import of that remark reverberated throughout the country within hours. It was in that speech that he referred to a sitting Governor as ‘eleyi’ meaning ‘this one’ literally in Yoruba.

THE BLUNDERER THINKS HIMSELF A REFORMER

By Steve Osuji

The butterfly thinks himself a bird: It was a haunting scene in Beijing, China the other week when President Bola Tinubu met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Such meetings are usually stuff for history: Africa’s great and Asia's great meeting minds to impact the world on a monumental scale.

THE CONFESSION OF DINO MELAYE

By Bola Bolawole

Politician Dino Melaye needs no introduction to Nigerians; neither is he new to controversies. His theatrics, however, set him apart from other controversial politicians of his ilk.

THE CONFESSIONS OF A FIRST LADY

By Bolanle Bolawole

Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, has been quoted as saying she did not know whether or not her husband met the expectations of Nigerians.

THE EARTH SHOOK

By Dili Ezughah

e 3 main contestants for the presidential ticket in the 2021 elections, only Tinubu had the testicular fortitude to make unpopular but right decisions for the country, few believed us.

THE EDITOR IN A TIME OF CRISIS

Azu Ishiekwene

This topic reminds me of two recent personal incidents. I was in the office on the morning of Tuesday, July 13 when a colleague rushed in with his phone.

THE ETHNIC PREJUDICES HOLDING US BACK

By Fredrick Nwabufo

The convulsive tenor of the campaign season is bringing out the worst in us. Daggers are drawn, tempers are inflamed; relationships are tested, and our differences are hyperboled.

THE FINAL GALLOP HOME

By Femi Adesina

There’s a saying in Yoruba language that the horse does not spurn the final gallop home. True. Home is that place you go to rest, after the labour and toil of the day. It is that place you find succor and respite, after the vagaries and vicissitudes that go with your daily exertions. No wonder they say, home, sweet home. There shouldn’t be a bad home. Worse than hell.

In about 44 days, we’ll be home. Who are the ‘we?’ Those of us who serve with President Muhammadu Buhari, whose second term expires on May 29, this year.

THE FOUNDATION OF EMEFIELE'S UNORTHODOX MONETARY POLICY AND THE FALLACY OF HIS IGBO ETHNIC IDENTITY DENIAL

By Dr Jona N. Ezikpe

President Muhammad Buhari recently, directed the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele to continue with his job as the Governor of CBN, after he, Emefiele, must have been seen to have somehow shown interest in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary. He predicated his decision on the good performance of Emefiele because he used the Unorthodox Monetary Policy approach which according to Buhari, has resulted in a better growth or performance of the economy.

THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY OGBONNAYA ONU PRESENTS FOR APC, BUHARI AND COUNTRY

By Ismail Idris

There many be a large army of aspirants angling for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but that hardly makes the task of choosing the man or woman best-suited for the ticket any more onerous for any party that is driven by a time-honoured principle of going for someone of impeccable character.

THE GOOD IN GOODBYE

By Femi Adesina

A popular saying tells us that ‘there’s no good in goodbye.’ Really? I’ve been turning it round in my head, and I think there may actually be some good in goodbye. In fact, a lot of good. Let’s go.

THE IMPERIALISTIC DIVISION OF NSUKKA IN THE NAME OF POLITICS

By George Onuma

The administration of Enugu State governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) has been fairly accorded benefits of doubt by optimistic people of the state, believing that he will improve with time. From 2015, everyone had trusted that perhaps, he would make good use of his executive office for the service of his people, having previously wasted twelve years in the House of Representatives without a single bill or constituency project to his name. After his first tenure, which was barren of development projects, save for relative peace which some believed was his making, not a few hoped for a better outing in his second tenure. But the overrated peace had a cocktail of violence and avoidable tragedies across the state, like the Nibo massacre of April 2016.

THE INTERESTING HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MONARCHY OF UNITED KINGDOM

THE LAST DANCE AT UNGA

By Femi Adesina

“This is the last that we shall dance together,” Wole Soyinka wrote in Kongi’s Harvest. And that was what President Muhammadu Buhari did Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America.

THE LETTER, THE SPIRIT, AND THE LETTERMAN

By Azu Ishiekwene

If there was a prize for Nigeria’s number one letter writer, journalist-turned-lawyer and one-time minister, Tony Momoh, would appear to be the undisputed champion.

THE MORPHOLOGY OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA -- What Happened Ahead Of 2023?

By Godknows Igali, Ph.D

The primaries of Nigerian political parties for the selection of candidates for 2023 General Elections have come and gone, leaving a trail of national dyspepsia of sorts. At a time when the opportunity of political change was expected to elicit eruptive cheers, this situation of staggering mood deserves, as the biological sciences would do, a deeper enquiry into understanding the forms and structures which underline the electoral process. Also, for historians as empirical scientists, which many of its practitioners claim to be, the main tool for accurately recording of current events for future generations entails getting into their roots and foundations.

THE NIGERIA PRESIDENT I WANT IN 2023.....Obasanjo

By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)

Nigeria's former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,has described the kind of President he wants for Nigeria in 2023.

THE OKONJO-IWEALA MANIFESTO FOR SOUTH-EAST ECONOMIC REVIVAL

By Chido Nwakanma

The Okonjo-Iweala Manifesto is a critical takeaway from the epochal South-East Economic and Security Summit that was held on 28-29 September in Owerri, Imo State. The World Trade Organisation DG spoke candidly and drew on her knowledge of economics, finance, and global trade to determine what amounts to a manifesto for the region. It featured SWOT and PESTLE analyses and a roadmap. She spoke on the need for Igbo leaders to unite and work together to boost the region's economy and address its security challenges.