Opinion

Tinubu’s Four Dogs Of War Against Democracy

Tinubu’s Four Dogs Of War Against Democracy

Tinubu’s four dogs of war against democracy: What is worse, three out of Tinubu’s four dogs of war against democracy – Judiciary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police – are the very institutions that can and should guarantee the survival of the country’s people-driven governance system. Tinubu and his four dogs of war against democracy By IKECHUKWU AMAECHI As a journalist, I admire cartoonists, those visual artists who draw and create engaging captions, for their genius. They are not only creative and original, but also investigative, often incorporating humour, wit and satire in their works. When they are…
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The Charade, From Edo To Rivers State

The Charade, From Edo To Rivers State

By SHEDDY OZOENE As we read this, the results from Saturday's local government elections in Rivers State are still filtering in. The elections held in spite of the refusal by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to avail the state electoral body an updated version of the state's voters register. To add to the intrigues, the Police - supposedly acting on a court ruling - abdicated its responsibility and refused to be part of maintaining lawful conduct of the polls. The elections held all the same and by the time all the results are called, Governor Sim Fubara will surely…
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Disaster Relief Fund: Why Fix It When It Is Not Broken?

Disaster Relief Fund: Why Fix It When It Is Not Broken?

By YAHAYA ETILA Recently, the federal government announced the establishment of a "Disaster Relief Fund" to address national disasters like flooding. I struggled to understand the aim and objectives because Wale Edun, the minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, stuttered when making the announcement. Yes, there is no doubt that when disasters occur, it is incumbent on the government to provide relief to those affected promptly to cushion the effect of such disasters. Does the country have a framework for addressing disaster situations, and has the agencies involved in disaster management lived up to expectations? I think…
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If I Were Asue Ighodalo

If I Were Asue Ighodalo

The Edo election has confirmed what every discerning Nigerian knows: the Mahmoud Yakubu-led INEC is a fraud with no moral fibre to conduct free, fair and credible elections. If I were Asue Ighodalo, the latest victim of Nigeria’s soulless electoral mafia, I will not go to court. The matter will be settled on the streets of Edo. If that is what those inclined to being politically correct call anarchy, so be it. Truth be told, unless and until Nigerians show the capacity to resist the malfeasance of INEC and their enablers on the streets, not in courts, this impunity will…
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The EFCC Chairman Feeds His Fat Ego At Our Expense

The EFCC Chairman Feeds His Fat Ego At Our Expense

By SHEDDY OZOENE The expansive headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Jabi, Abuja, deserves to have a wing for circuses. The building is so imposing that the mere sight should frighten the crime-minded, but behind the façade lies a clay-footed anti-graft agency that enjoys playing to the gallery and displaying the absurd. Over the years, it has witnessed many spectacular acts of triviality but on the watch of Olukayode Olanipekun, unnecessary ego now drives its policies and operations. Nowhere has this absurdity played out more than in its lousy handling of the case involving Yahaya Bello,…
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Edo Polls And The Famous Product Vendor

Edo Polls And The Famous Product Vendor

AZU ISHIEKWENE By his admission, Senator Adams Oshiomhole is a lousy product vendor. In the real commercial world, his premises would have been closed and his products banned. But in politics, crime multiples grace. Oshiomhole dragged Godwin Obaseki into the governorship race in 2016 when the odds were against him. Obaseki’s daytime job was minding his business at Afrinvest, a financial services company he founded. But he soon landed a side hustle as chairman of the Edo State Economic and Strategy Team in Osadebey House, Benin. When Oshiomhole wanted to hand over the baton in 2016, after two terms as…
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Edo Election: Monday Okpebholo Copies From The Tinubu Playbook

Edo Election: Monday Okpebholo Copies From The Tinubu Playbook

By SHEDDY OZOENE  Monday Okpebholo, the 54-year old governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State has been in the news since the past 10 days. He had veered off from the pleasing words of the average Nigerian politician by promising the people ‘insecurity’ if elected governor. The video recording of his campaign rally at Ovia North LGA where he goofed while addressing the crowd, has been trending across Edo State and beyond. It has also fired up concerns among people of the state about his suitability for the job, notably Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party…
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FRABEN AGWU, HOW NOT TO BE HONOURABLE

FRABEN AGWU, HOW NOT TO BE HONOURABLE

Sammie Echi Agbo I read an open letter by Hon Fraben Agwu, JP, to the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu South LGA, Hon. Caleb Ani. Agwu, in the letter, cynically congratulated Hon Ani on his emergence as the candidate of our great party. He described his emergence as ‘unmerited’. He didn’t stop there, he tagged His Excellency Jim Nwobodo as being in a state of ‘incommunicado’, alongside Agwu’s other unconscionable expressions. Joining issues with Agwu is, to say the least, make him relevant in the political space where he deservedly had gone into oblivion. For…
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Ahmed Bako’s Intellectual Masturbation As Inaugural Lecture

Ahmed Bako’s Intellectual Masturbation As Inaugural Lecture

Ndigbo have contributed immensely to the economic development of Kano. And they have worked hard for their money. Just as it is the case in Lagos, no one has accused them of being land grabbers. And no one can accuse them of not adding value to wherever they live. To accuse them, therefore, of taking over enterprises as well as landed properties which would have otherwise been under the control of indigenes, is preposterous. It does not make sense. By IKECHUKWU AMAECHI What caught my attention in the 50th inaugural lecture flyer of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto was the…
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Nwobodo’s Legacies That Shaped Education Of Ndigbo

Nwobodo’s Legacies That Shaped Education Of Ndigbo

By Sammie Echi Agbo A hero makes the difference no matter the length of time he stays on the stage. He sees beyond the moment and is often dreaded by noisy mongers. A hero however is like a ferocious animal that needs no entourage. This is a story of how Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, former governor of old Anambra State; former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and former minister of sports, laid the foundation of university of technology education in Igbo land when he was the governor of the old Anambra State. Chief Nwobodo, popularly called Jim, held…
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