Opinion

By Akanimo Sampson Since the Humphrey Nwosu Option A4 that produced MKO Abiola as a presidential candidate, and subsequently elected as president in Nigeria's fairest election that was crudely aborted by the Maradonic IBB military dictatorship, the country is yet to get it right with its electoral system. As a result, the supposedly giant of Africa is being ruined by poor governance and some inept leaders thrown up by a flawed electoral process. Humphrey Nwosu (October 2,1941 – October 20, 2024) was Chairman of the then National Electoral Commission (NEC), who was appointed by the "evil genius" himself, Ibrahim Babangida.…

By OREVA GODWIN Welcome to Africa, where every childless couple creates the regular African impression that the woman is the sole reason for the problem. She is labeled a man by her inlaws and by the public. No one ever cares to direct the blame for childlessness at the husband. It's always the woman. A typical African mother inlaw will say: "your husband's dad was a sharp shooter, so my son is a sharp shooter too. Like father, like son, so leave my son. Let him go meet a real woman and not a fellow man like you". It's a…

By LAWSON HEYFORD There is rising tension and fear amongst the people and residents of Rivers State, particularly political office holders in the state, following a spate of violent threats by individuals and groups over the series of ultimatum dangling on the state governor, Sir Siminilayi Joseph Fubara. This is coming on the heels of the one hour and thirty-six minutes judgment by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the lingering political stalemate in Rivers, dating back to August 2023. The Apex Court had last Friday, through a five member jurists, made some pronouncements which have caused uneasiness and unsettled…

Babangida’s truths and half-truths: Almost 60 years after, Ndigbo are still being made to pay a steep price for a crime – Igbo Coup – they never committed. The flip side is that ultimately, Nigeria is worse for it. Is anything likely to change even with Babangida’s uncommon candour? I doubt! But for summoning the courage to say this inconvenient truth, while the likes of Gowon are still playing the ostrich, even if it changes nothing, Babangida has done Nigeria a good turn. By IKECHUKWU AMAECHI To be sure, there is no earth-shaking revelation in General Ibrahim Babangida’s 420-page autobiography…

As global conflicts and security challenges persist, the role of women in peace-building and security remains more crucial than ever. Recognizing this, stakeholders across various sectors are calling for increased inclusion and active participation of women in decision-making processes related to peace and security. Historically, women have played a significant, yet often overlooked, role in conflict resolution, mediation, and community stability. From grassroots peace initiatives to high-level diplomacy, women have demonstrated their ability to bridge divides, rebuild societies, and foster sustainable peace. Despite this, systemic barriers, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and under-representation continue to hinder women's full engagement in security frameworks.…

By SHEDDY OZOENE In his inaugural address on May 29, 2015, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi roused the state with the promise that his tenure would be defined by the development trajectory he would diligently pursue. Of the many facets he reeled out, two stood out. The first was the promise to pay special attention to Nsukka by giving the area a face-lift befitting a university town. He also told the people that “Ninth Mile is an economic hub that we need to harness to enjoy the benefits of our newly-acquired status as a free trade zone…to create fresh economic opportunities and…

By Azu Ishiekwene Many years ago, when my son was completing paperwork for a job with the Lagos State government, he was required to fill out a form that included his State of Origin. He paused. It had been marked a compulsory field, and he wanted to know if not filling it would affect his chances. I said it would. He replied that he wouldn’t fill it, even if it meant losing the job. It didn’t make sense to him that his chances might come down solely not to his competence, merit, or the fact that he was born in…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Though Deputy Speaker,House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Kalu, has dismissed proposals seeking the creation of additional 31 States in the country as presently not meeting relevant constitutional provisions for such, this position of the federal legislature has not deterred public debates on the possibility. One part of far Northern Nigeria where discussions on possible state creation have assumed significant hues is the southern part of Kaduna State. One of the many reasons for this is the long-held perception of marginalization by the mainly Christian populace of this section, over appointment or accession to sensitive positions in…

The South-West region was caught in frenzy situation in October 2024 when the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and the National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), in what is regarded as a devious move, jointly inaugurated the Islamic Sharia Legal System in Ado Ekiti, the capital city of Ekiti State. The two Islamic bodies had also code-named the Sharia Legal System “the Independent Arbitration Panel”. The inauguration of the Sharia Panel thus berthed the Sharia Law administration in the South-West geopolitical zone. Lending support to the Sharia law operation in the entire Yorubaland, the Nasrul-lahi-li Faith Society (NASFAT) said the…