2027, APC And Merchants Of Political Violence

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Former Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi buried his mother, Ezinne Mary Oruah, on May 5, 2026 in Ubima, his ancestral Ikwerre hometown. It was a celebration of life. At 89 years, she lived long and well.

*Tinubu

Her son was not only a two-term governor but also Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years and Minister of Transportation. When his ministerial tour of duty ended, he set his eyes on the country’s ultimate political diadem – presidency. He is Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

2027, APC And Merchants Of Political Violence

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Former Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi buried his mother, Ezinne Mary Oruah, on May 5, 2026 in Ubima, his ancestral Ikwerre hometown. It was a celebration of life. At 89 years, she lived long and well.

*Tinubu
Her son was not only a two-term governor but also Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years and Minister of Transportation. When his ministerial tour of duty ended, he set his eyes on the country’s ultimate political diadem – presidency. He is Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

As Tinubu’s Dark Past Imperils Nigeria’s Future

By Ikechukwu Amaechi

It is indubitable, all pretensions to the contrary notwithstanding, that this is not the best of times for President Bola Tinubu. Granted, he is a hard guy – tough, unyielding and some will say lacking in empathy – but even the hardest of men have their vulnerable moments.

*Tinubu

This must be such a moment for Tinubu because nothing can be more unsettling for a leader than when the past, thought to have been successfully buried returns like a phoenix, an apparition of sorts, with old memories and unresolved events, haunting like a sudden ghost. But make no mistake about it. Nigerians are not spared because it is a nightmare for a people to have a leader who is haunted by his dark past.

2027: Vote ‘Right’ Or Be Banished?

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

As should be expected in this political silly season, politicians will maximise the window to test wild narratives and launch personal attacks aimed at distracting voters from the substantive issues that confront them. There is nothing particularly wrong with that as long as such antics are within the ambit of the law. But most Nigerian politicians like stretching the limits of such propositions.

The result is that politicians are now banning others from straying into their self-appropriated fiefdom with impunity, knowing that there will be no consequences. To be fair, such bullying tactics didn’t start today. But it has worsened because political buccaneers, who exploit public office for personal gain, would rather break bones than play by the rules. In this malfeasance, Edo State takes the cake.

Osun Election: Matters Arising

By Ikechukwu Amaechi 

Nigerians are an excitable lot. It is, therefore, not surprising that the outcome of the August 15 off-cycle Osun governorship election is generating so much buzz. To be sure, the outcome calls for celebration because for the first time in a long while, the will of the people prevailed in an election. 

*Adeleke

And it prevailed not because attempts were not made by the powers-that-be to replicate the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election heist. Till date, the beneficiary of that abracadabra, an open sesame of sorts, sits comfortably on the purloined mandate while the actual winner is languishing in political purgatory.

Nigeria As Federal Republic Of Asiwaju? Why Not!

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

At the rate some public officials are going, no one should be surprised if a bill surfaces in the National Assembly tomorrow seeking to rename the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Federal Republic of Asiwaju. When that happens, we will seize being Nigerians and become Asiwajuans! What a great name. Anyone saying God forbid as Nigerians are wont to do is not reading the signs correctly.

*Tinubu

In a country where public officials – elected and appointed – are falling over themselves and elbowing each other to please one man, God is not in the business of forbidden anything. Come to think of it, how long did it take the National Assembly to pass the bill that changed the national anthem in May 2024? Six days!

PFIPC Scandal: The Joke Is On Aso Rock

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Nigeria is one country where scandals break at the speed of light. As a public commentator, you can hardly keep pace.

*Adeyemi: DG of the 'fake' agency

On May 15, terrorists raided three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 46 people, including 39 schoolchildren. The victims, who include seven teachers and a toddler, have spent almost two months at God knows where. Two teachers were killed – one of them during the raid while the other, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, was beheaded in captivity.

On the same day, terrorists struck in Borno State, whisking away more than 50 schoolchildren from Mussa Central Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. Most of the children are below the age of 10. Despite the initial outrage, Nigerians have moved on as they are wont to do.

The Niche Lecture: And Alex Otti Spoke Loud And Clear

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

No one left the auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs on Thursday, April 23, 2026, unsure of what Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti said at the 2026 TheNiche Annual Lecture with the theme, “Governing the Economy: Choices, Trade-offs, and National Priorities.”

*Gov Otti receiving the certificate of induction into the TheNiche Hall of Fame from Ihechukwu Amaechi, the MD of TheNiche 

He spoke loud and clear. In a country where political leaders have mastered the mischievous art of speaking tongue-in-cheek; where judgements of even the Supreme Court are couched in obfuscating clichés and woolly phrases that muddy the waters rather than elucidate, that is a breath of fresh air.

His thesis was profound, the clarity of his hypothesis was refreshing, just as his candour was edifying. The message in his 4,875-word lecture was unambiguous, yet loud: Elections have consequences.

His opening salvo indicated his intention to be forthright: “There is no silver bullet for solving Nigeria’s myriads of economic challenges because economics is about cold, hard facts, not vanities. With high level of unemployment, especially amongst the youth population, rising incidence of poverty and growing sense of helplessness amongst our compatriots, it would be uncharitable to wish these unsettling realities away,” he said.

INEC And Its Professors Of Iniquity

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Electoral umpires in Nigeria have a long history of dalliance with academics so much so that it has almost become a rule for a professor, the discipline notwithstanding, to be appointed chairman. Granted, some non-academics sometimes find themselves in the saddle, but that is more of an exception.

*Prof Amupitan 

So, the 1959 federal election, which preceded independence, and was strictly the business of the departing colonial overlord – Britain – was conducted by the Electoral Commission of Nigeria, ECN, which was inaugurated in 1958 and headed by a British, Ronald Edward Wraith.

After independence in October 1960, the Tafawa Balewa-led government set up the Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, which replaced the ECN and in 1964 appointed Mr Eya Esua as the chairman. Though not a professor, Esua, nevertheless, was a reputed teacher.

Playing The 1998 Abacha Power Game In 2026

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

It was Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, the French critic, journalist, and novelist, who, in 1849, coined what has become an enduring proverb: plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose – the more things change, the more they stay the same. In matters of governance and power in Nigeria – military or civilian – nothing can be truer.

*Tinubu, Abacha

As editor of the Sunday Diet newspaper, I was in Maiduguri in April 1998, yes the selfsame Borno State capital that has become a killing field, to cover the national convention of the Grassroots Democratic Movement, GDM. Borno was the home state of Alhaji Gambo Lawan, the national chairman of the GDM, one of the five political associations that included the United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP; Congress for National Consensus, CNC; Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN; and the National Centre Party of Nigeria, NCPN, formally approved by the electoral umpire – National Election Commission of Nigeria, NECON – in September 1996 for the politics of that era.

Hasn’t Tinubu Insulted Nigerians Enough?

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

It is extremely difficult to understand why President Bola Tinubu takes delight in insulting Nigerians at every turn. Or how else can one explain most of his actions other than that of a leader who does not care a hoot about what the people think or feel?

*Tinubu 

A few weeks ago, it was the issue of presidential pardon. It beggared belief that a president would demean a constitutional instrument, designed not only to temper justice with mercy but also give the Nigerian state a human face with the axiomatic milk of kindness flowing underneath near infinite executive powers.

Under Bola Tinubu’s Watch, Boko Haram Has Finally Won

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

President Bola Tinubu is over the moon right now, for whatever it is worth. Last week was horrible for his administration and the man-in-charge image he is trying desperately to project. In less than seven days, terrorists deflated his elephantine ego by ambushing, penultimate Friday, a military team led by Musa Uba, a Brigadier General and commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, in Borno State, killing four operatives — two soldiers and two CJTF officials – and later executing the gallant officer.

*Tinubu during a security meeting with service chiefs

On Monday, November 17, they invaded Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, and abducted 24 schoolgirls after killing the vice-principal. On Wednesday, November 19, they stormed Christ Apostolic Church, in Eruku, Kwara State during a midweek prayer session, killing three persons and abducting 38 other congregants, mostly women and children, drawing nationwide outrage. To worsen matters, they placed a N100 million ransom on each of the 38 abductees.

Bola Tinubu’s Diminished Presidency

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Many are outraged that President Donald Trump called Nigeria a “disgraced country.” I am too. But my anger is not against Trump. I am angry with President Bola Tinubu who brought this insult on us. The only reason why Trump would disparage this country of over 200 million people is because Tinubu has damaged our collective reputation in the eyes of the international community.

*Tinubu

An African adage says, “He who fetches ant-infested firewood invites lizards in his house.” So, I am not cross with Trump’s showboating. Yes, as a Nigerian, my national pride is deeply hurt when the president of another country ridicules mine.

What Exactly Does Lagos State Want From Ndigbo?

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

On October 1, Nigeria marked its 65th anniversary as an independent country and Nigerian leaders, as usual, used the opportunity to preach the gospel of peace and unity. Nigeria, many insisted, is the handiwork of God.

*Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe and Peter Obi inspect the demolished structures at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos

President Bola Tinubu led the choir in his nationwide broadcast with this rallying cry: “While our system and ties that bind us are sometimes stretched by insidious forces opposed to our values and ways of life, we continue to strive to build a more perfect union where every Nigerian can find better accommodation and find purpose and fulfilment.”

Those that are more religiously inclined insist that since God does not make mistakes, then a united and indissoluble Nigeria must be seen as part of God’s divine purpose. But in reality, these preachments of unity mean nothing. They are mere sound bites meant to wheedle the unwary but which, at the end, as the legendary Shakespeare noted in Macbeth, are “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” They are periodic effusion of platitudes, wearing the toga of an idiot’s tale.

Wike’s Rants: Blame The Media, Not The Minister

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

The conduct of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, in the public space is quite unbecoming. It is not enough to dismiss him as unhinged as many are wont to do because to do so is to ignore the fact that for whatever it is worth, he is a Nigerian political elite, a member of the privileged club that makes the authoritative allocation of our collective values.

*Wike during a media chat
In any sane society, such privileged position demands some level of politesse and dignity in public conduct. His actions, at any given time, violate the acceptable standard and respect for others. To put it mildly, they go beyond the bounds of decency.

Beyond Yakubu Mohammed’s Expectations

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

I have always known Yakubu Mohammed by reputation. But we met physically in 2018 when the League of Nigerian Columnists berthed. Initiated by syndicated columnists, Akogun Tola Adeniyi and Professor Anthony Kila, the league paraded industry giants such as Dan Agbese, Ray Ekpu, Reuben Abati, the late Henry Boyo, Ben Lawrence, the late Jimanze Ego-Alowes, Dare Babarinsa, Martins Oloja, Akin Osuntokun and yours sincerely as inaugural members.

*Yakubu Mohammed's book 

Attending meetings and sharing ideas with these great men, an assemblage of people whose encyclopedic knowledge of Nigeria is deep, was invaluable. Whether it is Ekpu, Mohammed or Adeniyi or the urbane economist, Boyo, you couldn’t but marvel at what they knew, not from hearsay but firsthand information.

Southern Solidarity For Tinubu: Which South, What Solidarity?

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

One of the absurdities of Nigeria’s pseudo-democracy is the fact that those clamouring for President Bola Tinubu’s second term are not flaunting his achievements. Instead, the battle cry is the need for him to complete his “constitutionally guaranteed” two terms of eight years, not minding that there is no such guarantee in the 1999 Constitution, amended or not.

*Tinubu

The more sophisticated amongst them are blackmailing the country with the rotational presidency arrangement between the North and South. They insist that since the late Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, was president for eight years, then a Southerner must be accorded the same privilege. And guess what? That Southerner must be Tinubu. In the event that the North reneges, they preach Southern solidarity as an antidote to the alleged greed of Northern political elites.

Tinubu’s Injudicious Governance Template In A Heterogeneous Society

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

In his seminal offering last Sunday titled, “Whose president is Tinubu, anyway?” TheNiche columnist, Dr. Chidi Amuta, concluded in a rather cautionary note: “Tinubu’s current quandary as to his real national constituency may end in greater confusion unless he is ready to rediscover the source of his original sin and redress it. That original sin is that he has failed to rise to the lofty height of the nation. Instead, he has spent two years struggling to reduce a great nation to the limited size of his stature, vision and politics. To discover his mission, Tinubu has to rise to the magnitude of his national canvass.”

*Tinubu

It was a well-intentioned advisory, which, if heeded, will do President Tinubu a world of good and soothe frayed nerves in the country. But knowing him, it is an advisory he will treat with derision.

Politics In Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria!

 
By Ikechukwu Amaechi

At best, Nigeria’s democracy in this Fourth Republic has been wobbly, standing, as it were, on feet of clay. And a quarter of a century thence, rather than getting better, things have got worse as the politicians are busy dismantling all the guardrails of democracy – civic participation, which undergirds every genuine democratic project; the rule of law, that norm which says no one is above the law and makes a democracy function properly; separation of powers and checks and balances, democratic values which ensure that no individual or institution would have too much power over others;  federalism and limited government, which Dr. Meena Bose, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, at Hofstra University, described as “principles that ensure that the American political system protects liberty and natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Nigeria And Its Tunnel Vision Elites

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Nigerians are hypocritically sanctimonious, a trait that has become evident since the death of President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13. Many, particularly politicians, have lied against the man, literally, by clothing him in borrowed robes in a bid not to speak ill of the dead.

*Late Buhari and Tinubu

All manner of adjectives have been deployed in eulogising the departed leader. But in doing that they lie against him, almost to the point of defamation.

But there is no use flogging a dead horse. While Buhari was alive, I wrote tons of articles lamenting his leadership style not because I hated him but because I wanted him to change. But he was a man set in his ways. Now that he is dead, the inevitable judgement of history will take its natural course. But one fact remains undeniable as Professor Anthony Kila aptly put it: Buhari is a promise unkept.