Opinion

By Azu Ishiekwene Almost everyone thinks they know what is wrong with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government, except Tinubu himself. And to show that it’s not just bellyaching, there are plenty of examples to beat the president over the head. Headline inflation has risen from 22.2 percent in April 2023 to 33.7 one year after – and is still growing – while attempts by the government to tame it have been largely ineffective. Food inflation has nearly doubled. The naira has been devalued by 70 percent in one year, and poverty levels, even among the once-comfortable urban population,…

By People&Politics By Zainab Suleiman Okino On July 18, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) held its 2024 policy meeting to determine modalities for admissions into tertiary institutions. However, the process was overshadowed by an age controversy. It began when the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, reiterated his concern about underage students writing exams preparatory to becoming undergraduates, a point he had raised during the last Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME). Almost all the tertiary education administrators at the event unanimously opposed the minister’s suggestion of an 18-year-minimum age, forcing him to temporarily reverse and defer the…

By Adadareporters My fellow Nigerians, I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would…

By Ifeanyi Ejiofor In a recent viral video, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, stated, “IGBOS SHOULD SIT-AT-HOME AND NOT JOIN THE #ENDBADGOVERNANCEPROTEST BECAUSE THEY WILL BE SLAUGHTERED IF THEY PARTICIPATE.” MY THOUGHTS: I find this statement from a prominent Igbo political figure deeply concerning, as it essentially sought to encourage Igbos to waive their constitutionally guaranteed rights. If Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu had advised Igbos to refrain from participating in the #EndBadGovernanceProtest for any reason other than the fear of being slaughtered, I would not have criticized him as harshly, nor would many…