By Wole Olaoye Professor Okello Oculi was a cat with many lives. He outlived the several dictators who would have been delighted to roast him, but he has left a long trail of inconsolable mourners in Nigeria where he made a home and raised a family. In all, he lived in Nigeria for 48 years, Read More…
Ostensibly, it was meant to be a compliment of sorts. But it has backfired massively all over Africa. US President Donald Trump had invited five West African presidents to the White House to discuss “trade instead of aid”. While there were various speculations as regards the real reason behind the invitation— especially as the continental Read More…
Alhaji Buba Galadima, an outspoken politician and self-confessed insider of many conspiracies, recently raised an alarm alleging that the current downward trend of food prices was a conspiracy by the Tinubu administration to impoverish the Northern part of Nigeria. North food prices are going down. Many ordinary Nigerians are happy with the development. But people Read More…
All animals are not equal. If you doubt it, attempt to replicate General Ibrahim Babangida’s actions and inactions over the years — and see where you’ll end up. First shoot your way into power. Confront civil society with both an iron fist and a toothy smile. Be a military Janus — on one side Santa Read More…
He is not just a deputy of the gods, he is the father and mother of death, the offspring of perdition, of metaphysical ruination and wanton loss. His suzerainty over Oyo Empire in its glory days was the stuff of which legends have been made. The long list of his forebears and their unique individual Read More…
If you ever ventured near the World Headquarters Shrine of the Palmwine Drinkards Club at the University of Ife of yore, you would hear the constant refrain: Things fall apart, the centre must hold;A house divided against itself shall stand;Few are called, many are chosen… In the midst of all the lightheartedness for which that Read More…
Much ado about a book! There will always be hawks and doves on both sides. It is at such times that I appreciate the admonition of Gordon B Hincklrey: “A small publication that came to me some years ago carried the following: ‘Once a man who had been slandered by a newspaper came to Edward Read More…
I have never made a secret of my admiration for Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd). Right from the time he broke into public consciousness with his brief stint as Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority to the time he came unto his own as governor of old Kaduna State (including the present Katsina Read More…
An ingrate is but a robber in disguise. I am thrilled to celebrate, on the same platform today, two great Nigerians who have impacted greatly on our collective intellectual environment and whose birthdays providentially fall within a few days of each other. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka turned 90 on July 13 while Emeritus Professor Olatunji Read More…
One of the personalities I had expected to pump hands with at the dinner marking the 2024 Democracy Day in commemoration of the June 12 struggle, was the former chairman of the National Electoral Commission, 82-year-old Prof Humphrey Nwosu. His absence filled the State House Banquet Hall as if the pillars holding the rafters of Read More…
