Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Death Of the Liberian Warlord General Prince Yomi Johnson

 By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

The news of the death of the controversial Liberian warlord General Prince Yomi Johnson has just reached me. The man became friends with me whilst he was in exile in Lagos, Nigeria. 

*Prince Johnson 

Let’s just do a quick recall of the gory video scene of the killing of then President Samuel Doe of Liberia. There was the beer-guzzling Prince Yomi Johnson sitting in judgment over the captured and tied-up Doe who was begging for his life thusly: “Yomi, two people fight, one win. Spare me, please.” 

Of course poor Samuel Doe had his miserable life snuffed out. 

Now the news has hit town that General Prince Yomi Johnson too is dead.

A tear for him! 

Prince Yomi Johnson used to live in exile in Ikoyi, Lagos, and I once had a memorable encounter with him. No appointment was fixed with the former warlord. I simply appeared unannounced at the frontage of the man’s Ikoyi home one hot Tuesday afternoon, and settled on a white plastic chair by the door of the bistro that led into the compound.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Nigeria: Deferment Of Renewed Hope?

By Kelechi Deca

In 2022, Nigeria had its first comprehensive Multidimensional Poverty Index, MPI, report, measuring households’ monetary poverty, education and basic infrastructure services deprivation. It incorporated a Child MPI, adding a child development and survival dimension. 

The MPI estimates that 133 million Nigerians, or 63 per cent of the population, are multidimensionally poor, with significant disparities in poverty levels across states. Rural areas have higher poverty rates at 72per cent compared to urban areas (42 per cent).

Monday, December 2, 2024

Continuing Story Of Nigeria’s Undemocratic Posture

 By Tonnie Iredia

No democratic nation is expected to undermine any of the easily recognizable 5 pillars of democracy.


These are: (i)the sovereignty of the people in which government functions only on behalf of the people (ii) the rule of law which presupposes the absence of arbitrariness in a society where everyone is equal before the law iii) free and fair elections, that is, periodic contests which throw up political leaders that are truly determined by only the electorate (iv) majority rule in which government is formed by the political party which has the highest number of lawful votes and (v) minority rights in which government is obliged to protect the rights of the vulnerable and powerless segments of society.

Requiem For PDP

 By Dele Sobowale

“All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies” – Dr Arbuthnot, 1667-1735, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 191. 

Note: This article started on the day of the Ondo State election. The result was not surprising. “You can’t beat something with nothing”. PDP is now nothing. Obong Victor Attah, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and former Trustee of the PDP, is an internationally-recognised architect. He was the first African to be granted licence to practice as an architect in New York State.