Security: Nigeria Still At 100 Level

By Adekunle Adekoya

In the last few weeks, the global news media and the internet have been awash with the exploits of the state of Israel in the campaign against Hamas, Hezbollah and other real and apparent threats. In sympathy, Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel last Tuesday. Israel claimed most of the missiles were rendered ineffective by her advanced air defence systems called the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow.

For information, the Iron Dome is the most well-known of Israel’s missile shields, and is designed to intercept short-range rockets, as well as shells and mortars, at ranges of between 4km and 70km from the missile launcher. David’s Sling is meant to destroy longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium-range or long-range ballistic missiles from a distance of up to 300km. The Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems defend against medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles when they are anywhere up to 2,400km away.

Umuahians In The US Storm The Windy City

 By Obi Nwakanma

Twenty years ago, the alumni of the Government College Umuahia first met in the United States, and decided to take on the challenge of restoring their famous alma mater, the Government College Umuahia, and while at it, have some fun. 

In that first convention that drew many of the “old boys” of the Government College Umuahia – “Umuahians,” as they are best known – for the first time to a national gathering in New Jersey, their distinguished “old boy,” the world famous novelist, the late Chinua Achebe, in wheelchair, tended lovingly all the way from Bard College, in the Catskills by his wife, Christie, reminded his fellow Umuahians, of what every generation of schoolmasters used to say to students at Umuahia: “to whom much is given, much is expected.” It was the basis of the “noblese oblige.” 

Nigerian Elections: INEC Can Do Much Better

 By Tonnie Iredia

Anyone who followed the conduct of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State would not have found it difficult to identify several challenges which derogated substantially from what could easily have ended as a free, fair and credible electoral process. Must every Nigerian election be contentious and unduly controversial? Why is it so difficult to play the game of election by its rules in Nigeria?

If Nigerian politicians who have become notorious for their anti-democratic disposition make it hard for the country to attain successful elections, must election managers also allow their unacceptable partisanship to continue to worsen Nigeria’s political dilemma? Many more questions must have been silently considered by well-meaning citizens in the last one week.

Fears For Our Children’s Future

 By Ayo Oyoze Baje

The most immediate source of disconnect between Nigeria’s wealth and poverty is a failure of government at the federal, state and local levels” – Hillary Clinton (2009) 

The poem titled, ‘Our Children’s Anthem’, was written by yours truly and published by the Nigerian Herald back in 1988, sincere concern was raised over the quality of life of the upcoming generations of Nigerians, if the political leadership did not get it right, as a t that time. 

Edo Sham Poll: UN Must Safeguard Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Election

 By Olu Fasan

Outrageous! How dare you say the United Nations should help run elections in Nigeria, a sovereign state? That’s how some will react to this intervention. But leaving aside the fact that countries often seek United Nations electoral assistance, what’s truly outrageous and utterly shameful is that Nigeria, so-called “Giant of Africa”, cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections, something less endowed African countries do routinely and successfully.

*INEC Chair, Yakubu and Tinubu

This week, on October 1, Nigeria turned 64 as an independent nation. Sadly, it’s 64 years of sham elections and hollow democracy. As John Campbell and Matthew Page said in their book, Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know, “massive election rigging has been characteristic of Nigeria since independence”.

Before Nyesom Wike’s Fire Consumes Nigeria

 By Luka Danboyi

The self-immolating tendency for people to be indifferent to situations in which they are not directly involved seems to be playing out in the debacle in Rivers State. Curiously, there are people who are enjoying the political drama between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor-cum-godfather, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

*Wike 

There is no question that the vast majority of Nigerians are inured to the shenanigans of a disoriented political elite that hardly reckons with the plight of the people. Only such a situation would produce the present economic nightmare afflicting a country so richly endowed that, less than 50 years ago, other countries were visiting to understudy its impressive developmental effort and to borrow ‘seeds’ for their agricultural revolution.

Egowure Anyanwu-Okahia: A Mother-In-Law Like No Other

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

When I came home on Saturday, August 31, 2024 to meet my wife, Chioma, lying on the bed with bloodshot eyes, I was alarmed. When I asked what the problem was, she retorted, “Check your phone.” She accuses me of bad telephone etiquette – not reading text messages and responding timeously – with a warning that if I don’t change, sooner than later, I would miss out on an information that needed urgent attention. From the tone of her voice, I had a hunch that foretold day may have come.

Late Mrs. Anyanwu-Okahia

I quickly checked my phone and froze. “My mother is no more,” was her pithy message at exactly 4.01pm, more than five hours before I came back. I was shocked because we had spoken to the old woman the previous day and she was not only in high spirit but also, typically, prayed for everyone. There was no premonition whatsoever which explains why the news hit me like a thunderbolt, even when we all knew that at her age, she was at life’s departure lounge.

EFCC And Yahaya Bello’s Hide-And-Seek Game

 By Charles Okoh

The Economic and Finan­cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have with re­cent events, proven to those who never believed in its abilities to properly prosecute financial fraud offenders without bias, that it has outlived its usefulness. An anti-graft agency that seems only out to diligently hunt and pros­ecute small fries while bungling high-profile cases involving men and women of means certainly can­not provide the much desired check on economic and financial crimes that hold this nation hostage.

*Tinubu and Bello 

At the outset of the agency, inci­dentally under Nuhu Ribadu, who is the current National Security Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there were at least some attempts to prosecute high-pro­file cases. Even though it was ar­gued that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and succeeding presi­dents after him, have been using the agency to persecute political enemies but it was still not hopeless as it currently is.

Edo 2024: A Fait Accompli!

 By Jane Uyi Orobosa

As far as many people are con­cerned, the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can­didate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the Edo State gubernato­rial contest on Sunday, September 22, was simply a fait accompli and not the outcome of an election. For them, it was long predetermined. All that happened was working from the answer to the question by shameless national institutions. An unmitigat­ed travesty of electoral contest.

*INEC Chair Yakubu and Tinubu

It is an open secret that before the election, an alleged viral video of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while canvassing votes from would be delegates in the 2023 presidential election, allegedly vowing to hand over Edo State to APC as a sitting President, was repeatedly circulated. It was ostensibly to remind Tinubu, the institutions involved and the general public that there was an ‘ex­isting pact’, or so it seems, to deliver Edo State to APC by hook or crook.

Nigerians Remain Dispossessed After 64 Years Of Independence

 By Owei Lakemfa

Events of monumental proportions are happening in the world. The assassination of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasarallah, may signal the commencement of all-out war in the Middle East.

Those who love conquest would celebrate his elimination. Those who seek peace would recognise that his death drives humanity closer to an avoidable war.

Since we all agree that we now live in a global village, we should be concerned about such events in the world. But Nigerians are not prepared for such a fall-out.

Fellow Nigerians, Forget Govts, Fend For Yourselves!

 By Dele Sobowale

I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me” – President Bola Tinubu, September 20, 2024.

Small correction is needed before getting to the heart of the matter. Nigerians gave candidate Tinubu 33 per cent of their votes; 67 per cent did not want him. INEC and the judiciary finished the job for him. Furthermore, no President has ever confessed that he was looking for money. But, why are they always far richer after than before going into office? To the best of my knowledge, Tinubu had no AIRBUS 320, even Tokunbo, before he became President. That costs a lot of money! One of the best attributes of great leaders is leadership by example

As Poverty Deepens In Nigeria

 By Adekunle Adekoya

Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. — Aristotle (384-322 BC).

The state of affairs in our dear country, Nigeria, as at now, is simply bothersome. When an Ijebu man is finding it difficult to afford garri, which he wants to soak in water and gulp down with either a piece of meat, a cutlet of fish or a handful of groundnuts, then there is a hell of a lot of things to worry about. Two weeks ago, I was at home, in Ijebu-Ode for the burial of an in-law. Returning after the affair, I detoured to the popular Oke-Aje Market, near the Moslem Praying Ground to buy garri, which I really can’t do without.

Book News: 'Ojukwu: Exile, Diplomacy And Survival' By Kanayo Esinulo

 Fresh and Hot!

American book experts always tell us that Fall (Autumn) is usually the time when blockbusters hit the shelves...  

Veteran journalist, eminent writer and public relations expert, Kanayo Esinulo, has been under tremendous pressure to give the world this book.

In Biafra, he worked closely with General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu at the Biafra State House, and stayed with him as one of his closest aides in exile in the Cote d’Ivoire. He saw everything at very close quarters, including all the details of “the years in exile and the deft moves that led to Gen Ojukwu’s return to Nigeria in 1982.”

I can’t wait to devour this long-awaited book which will be presented to the public in November … and, then, bare my mind in a review...

Everybody needs to read this book...

 

TV Series Adaptation Of Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' Features Idris Elba As Okonkwo

 Press Release

Achebe Masterworks Announces Development Deal with A24 for TV Series Adaptation of Things Fall Apart

In a landmark collaboration, Achebe Masterworks is thrilled to announce a partnership with acclaimed Studio A24 and producers, Idris Elba and David Oyelowo, for the television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.

Published in 1958, Things Fall Apart established African literature on the global stage and remains the most widely read African novel, with over 30 million copies sold and translations in more than 60 languages.

Oil Refineries: Nigeria Ignores The Green Energy Transition At Its Peril

 By Olu Fasan

Last  week, I wrote about the dire economic consequences for Nigeria as a petrostate almost solely reliant on oil and gas exports. This week, I want to address another aspect of that intervention: the climate impacts of Nigeria’s deepening commitment to burning fossil fuels.

Nothing demonstrates this commitment more than the excitement over the Dangote Refinery and the government’s determination to license more private oil refineries while pursuing new hydrocarbon exploration. The economic and climate impacts of Nigeria’s fossil-fuel dependency pose existential threats to the country’s future stability. Yet, Nigeria is entrenching itself as a hydrocarbon country while paying lip service to energy transition.

Edo Governorship Election And The ‘Umpire’ Called INEC

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

I had very instructive discussions with two A-list Nigerian politicians before and after the Edo State governorship election; the first being on Wednesday, three days before the poll. Both men have held positions of immense responsibility in government both at the state and federal levels.

The first politician dismissed those who believed that given the pedigree of the 18 candidates and sophistication of the Edo electorate, the odds favoured the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, as unrealistic.

Bako, The Bandit Historian!

 By Emeka Obasi

Genocide does not happen in one day. It is triggered by individuals with skewed minds raging with hate and spewing evil through their speeches, body language or pen. Ahmed Bako should prepare for summons by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Bako, who taught History at the Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto used what should have been his Valedictory Lecture but was tagged the institution’s 50th Inaugural Lecture to descend on the Igbo. He painted them as Diaspora in Kano, killers of Sardauna, and separatists, whose aim from the beginning was to use education to dominate.

Why Tinubu Should Listen To Our Elder Statesmen

 By Nick Dazang

Apart from an army of voluble commentators holding successive governments to account and speaking truths to them in the most parliamentary and patrician fashion, Nigeria is blessed with scores of irrepressible elder statesmen.

*Tinubu

Whenever matters come to a head and Nigeria teeters at the brink of precipice, these statesmen weigh in with their thoughts. They intervene by way of statements or well calibrated pronouncements. Sometimes they do so by authoring scathing epistles. Some of these statesmen, such as Chiefs Gani Fawehinmi and Anthony Enahoro and Dr. Tai Solarin have departed this sinful world.

How Long Will Yahaya Bello Continue With This Lawless Act?

 By Richards Ibe

The ex-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who handed over to the current governor of the state, Usman Ododo in January this year after his two terms of four-years-tenure, has consistently been in the news in the past eight months.

*Bello and others dancing on the road...

It has been from one drama to the other bordering on his stewardship and how he handled the affairs of the state under his tenure.

Bello, who was alleged to have defrauded the state to the tune of N84 billion during his tenure, have done everything in and out of the books to avoid his trial spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC, Yahaya Bello And Gov Ododo: Stranger Than Fiction

 By Ugoji  Egbujo

The glory has departed. In the Obasanjo era, politicians dreaded the EFCC. When Ribadu was at the helm, the EFCC didn’t do tales by moonlight. Obasanjo and Ribadu were not saints, but against corruption, they barked and bit. Under their watch, the Eagle would have broken its beak and neck rather than allow this Bello-Ododo charade. It’s getting messier. The EFCC looks castrated.

*Bello

How then does Tinubu seek to renew hope if his government cuddles the most high-profile political criminal suspects so shamelessly.