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By FESTUS ADEDAYO Yesterday, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, rallied Nigeria’s opposition political parties to Ibadan. According to him in his welcome address, the summit was to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of Nigeria’s apparent descent into autocracy, “a pattern where the space for real political competition is disappearing.” Ibadan summit’s message is an echo of a famous proverbial phrase and song of late Yoruba broadcaster and actor, Papa Adebayo Faleti, in the classic film, Saworoide. Faleti warned the maximalists of Jogbo country, especially its ruler, Lapite, a corrupt and ambitious king who skips traditional rituals to rule selfishly…

By FESTUS ADEDAYO (Published by the Sunday Tribune, April 12, 2026) A huge social dynamite recently exploded in the discourse of black magic. With the 2027 elections and early political manipulations already holding our lives by the jugular, the explosion went unnoticed. One of Yoruba’s leading musicians, Saheed Osupa, real name Saheed Okunola, openly detonated the dynamite. On March 30, 2026, at a live performance marking the birthday of a Yoruba actor, the musician admitted that he uses traditional spiritual power to fortify himself and enhance his musical success. Osupa is a known Islamic faith adherent. Can anyone openly hoist…

In the South-East zone, the Tinubu reelection campaign train - driven by the governors, Senators and APC elite - is surely on the move. But the coaches that should carry the people are largely empty By SHEDDY OZOENE In political parlance, an echo chamber emerges when party members spend more time talking to themselves than in engaging with the people. They focus on showing loyalty to their leader instead of convincing skeptical voters. In that regard, the South-East, at least for the All Progressives Congress and the all-pervasive campaign for a second term for President Bola Tinubu, is very much…

Let’s cut Tinubu some slack: Few months to the 2027 elections, there is no arrowhead for the opposition. They are not allowed to hold meetings, carry out membership registration exercise or even welcome new members into their fold. Yoruba irredentists are warning that anyone opposed to Tinubu’s ambition should steer clear of the Southwest. Yet, no whimper of protest. A once vibrant political nation has been hypnotised. Nigerian politicians have been castrated. Men of yesterday have suddenly become political eunuchs… Tinubu owns APC just as he owns Nigeria and the fear of Tinubu in the party is the beginning of…