Featured Legal Nigeria Notes Owei Lakemfa

Supreme Court weakens federalism, strengthens unitary system

THE Supreme Court on Thursday, July 11, 2024 made landmark judgements on local government areas, LGAs, in the country. First, it gave the salutary order that they must be run by elected persons. Its second order that LGAs be paid directly by the centre, seeks more or less, to de-link them from the states they are located. In other words, it Read More…

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Europe Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa World

Europe at work, please don’t disturb

THE on-going right wing shifts in European parliamentary elections give the impression that there are seismic shifts in the plates of its politics. Please don’t worry yourself. There are no possibilities of earthquakes. These are mere rumblings in the belly of its body politic. It is said that Europe’s far-right gained historic grounds in the elections, but the lesson for us Read More…

AU
Africa Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa World

After the AU Summit, Africa continues its drift

If a family meets in a room, members give themselves pecks, exchange polite greetings, make flowery speeches and emerge laughing for group photographs, likely, they have not been truthful to themselves. That was my impression following the 37th Summit of the African Union, AU, from February 17–18, 2024, in Addis Ababa. After attending a few Read More…

Business Economy Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa

World Bank and IMF: In the shadow of their talons.

The American World Bank and the European International Monetary Fund, IMF, in the past few weeks, circled Nigeria like vultures waiting for the prey to die. The twin organisations have become more active and quite audacious since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power on May 29, 2023. They are like predators, ready for the Read More…

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Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa World

How they want to govern eight billion people

Eight billion human beings entered 2024, a few days ago with hopes of a better world. But that may be largely determined by rulers across countries who may not even share the same vision. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose forces have sustained some 70,000 deaths and over 100,000 injuries, does not seek a peaceful resolution. Rather, Read More…

Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa Venezuela World

Diplomatic hostage, Alex Saab, returns in triumph

Venezuelan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union, Alex Nain Saab Morán, who, against the established diplomatic practice of immunity, had been illegally detained in Cape Verde for sixteen months and in the United States for two years, was freed on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. He was exchanged for ten American prisoners in Venezuela who Read More…

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Cuba Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa World

Cuba: Where dedication to humanity is like religion

THE Israeli bombs that rained down on Gaza have killed over 200 health workers, with 215 injured. In Havana, Cuba, 10,953 kilometres away, Palestinian youths being trained as medical doctors gathered to mourn the human carnage in their country and vowed to take the next available flight back once they complete their studies to replace Read More…

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Featured Notes Owei Lakemfa United Kingdom World

Masters of the game: Britain plucks Cameron to regain balance

The British are known masters of diplomacy and politics. This is exemplified in the quote by its former Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said: “’Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.” That was how Britain, an island in the North Read More…

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Featured Israel Notes Owei Lakemfa Palestine World

On Judgement Day, I will say, I stood for humanity

If, on Judgement Day, the Lord asks me what I did while the Palestinians were being exterminated like flies, I will say that I stood up to protest and to campaign against the genocide. I will say I wrote against the world leaders who want an eye-for-an-eye, a tooth-for-a-tooth. “My Lord,” I will say, “ Read More…