Opinion

By FESTUS ADEDAYO (Published by the Sunday Tribune, June 1, 2025) An ice wall initially separated President Bola Tinubu and POTUS Donald Trump. As they sat inside the White House’s Oval Office, Tinubu was the first to thaw the ice. “How are you managing old age, Mr. President?” he asked jocularly. Apparently fazed by the Nigerian president’s boldness, Trump flashed his traditional wry smile and replied, “Same here, Mr. President. How are you coping with age?” They both laughed rambunctiously, laughter which instantly infected some of their aides on each sides of the divide. While official account claims Tinubu is…

By Kehinde Olaosebikan ‘See Paris and die’ is a phrase used to describe the beauty of Paris, the capital city of France. Not that one would die after seeing Paris, it presages that feeling Paris is the ultimate fulfillment of life’s aspirations; signifying that one could die happy having sighted the city. Seeing the city gives a sense of completeness and finality to one’s life journey after witnessing the best of beauties, Paris. But, today, as capital cities across the world outpace France in beauty, Abuja, Nigeria’s 8,000 square-kilometer capital is burgeoning towards attaining the status of one of the leading best…

By Abdullah Dan'Azumi Mohammed Golkos The United, Cohesive North 1960s-1980s Where Religion, Ethnicity Weren't Issues There was a Northern Nigeria in the 60s to the early 80s. I saw that North, I witnessed it and experienced it. It was monolithic, cultured, enlightened, multi-ethnic and multi-religious, a tolerant North in which there was mutual respect for each other. There was no competition for superiority or domination by any ethnic group or religion. Rather, the relationship between the peoples was characterised by cooperation rather than confrontation. To be a Muslim or Christian was met by the reaction: So what? People were judged…

By OREVA GODWIN This piece might trigger a lot of reactions. But this is what a lot of people face in their marriages and relationships. Writing this piece is likely to take a lot of strength from me. It's difficult not to be overwhelmed by emotions. When I write, it's from my heart. I write with passion. I put myself in the midst of people's stories and feel their pain and grief. What do we mean by making love to a shadow? Some people enjoy breaking their partners completely. They have that satisfaction that they have completely break you and…

By SHEDDY OZOENE In a country burdened by growing public distrust in government institutions, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) added a fresh layer of controversy with the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The incident has become a national flashpoint, with reported mass failures, widespread student protests, and ultimately an unprecedented admission of fault by JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. While a plan for a reseat offers a glimmer of hope, it does not answer deeper questions of institutional accountability, the future of Nigeria’s educational assessment system and the Board’s poor response to students traumatized by its ineptitude.…

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi The time has come to draw a firm line in Nigeria’s protracted battle against insurgency. With thousands of so-called “repentant” terrorists surrendering, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society, the recent resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism in the Northeast demands a critical reassessment of the nation’s counter-terrorism approach, especially the controversial amnesty program. The recurring waves of violence suggest that leniency has been mistaken for weakness. Now is the time for Nigeria’s military to shift gears and pursue an uncompromising offensive against the insurgents. Enough is enough! Borno State, the epicenter of Nigeria’s decade-long insurgency, is…

By OREVA GODWIN This is one controversial topic, and you, my dearest readers, already know how controversial I can be. I'm a born-again Christian and yet a realist. I don't let my religious beliefs kill my reality. And I can never force my religious belief on someone or on the law. Sometimes, we need to look at things, not just from the religious angle but also from the human perspective. So let's keep an open mind as we talk about this topic, without being judgemental or throwing stones. It's an old-time practice that can never end. Am I here to…

By SHEDDY OZOENE The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th Pope started with the comical. Days before his election on Thursday May 8, United States President Donald Trump roused a lot of criticism across the world after he posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope. The image which the President posted penultimate Friday features him wearing a traditional bishop’s attire: a white cassock and pointed mitre, and a large cross around his neck. Coming curiously as Catholics were still mourning the passing of the much-loved Pope Francis, who died on 21 April, and in the thick…