Anyone who still wonders why Nigeria and its citizens have become mendicants in spite of their rich natural endowments should take another look at the number of manufacturing companies that have gone under or relocated from the country in the last five decades. In the 70s and 80s, Nigeria-made goods were the gold standard in Read More…
Tag: Wole Olaoye
When Trouble Sleeps…
I don’t like wars. But I don’t mind wars if they are in defence of a people’s essence. Remember how Horatio defended the bridge of River Tiber in the days of ancient Rome? The book, “Lays of Ancient Rome”, preserved the narrative for posterity: “To every man upon this earth, death cometh soon or late; Read More…
On Adam and Steve
We all acknowledge that the world is changing but we also know that some so-called changes negate our essence and culture.
God Save Their King!
Congratulations, King Charles III. The whole world literally stood still as the major networks of the globe tuned to Westminster to report the incredible cultural spectacle of your coronation. The global community felicitated as one family with the United Kingdom, gluing its eyes to the show stopper. Before God and man, Charles III ascended the Read More…
Why Can’t Science Speak ‘Vernacular’?
Cast your mind back to your secondary school days. English was the only legitimate language of communication. There were students from the hinterland who couldn’t measure up to the requirement and so had to run afoul of the law and face the inevitable sanctions. There was the case of one such student who had a Read More…
When Impunity Feeds Criminality
What is the common denominator between the attempted electoral coup in Adamawa State and the recent lynching of a final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University? Impunity! We have, over the years, got so used to getting away with bad behaviour that we now strive to outdo whatever malfeasance is considered the current champion in Read More…
Pa Adebanjo @ 95
I have always been fascinated by the worldview and insights of old people— fellow mortals who have trodden these ever changing paths for so long that the story of their lives is the story of an era. I am doubly enthralled when such old people have impacted their societies and LIVED FOR SOMETHING. In a Read More…
Vilification of Soyinka
Our values as a people have broken down. There is no better place to witness the madness than social media where apparent cowards hide behind digital anonymity to cast aspersions on the integrity of their betters. It was sad seeing the kind of insults some misguided elements were flinging at Prof Wole Soyinka over his Read More…
Crazy World of Tribalism and Media-phobia
Tribalism is to Africa what racism is to the West. It is the African version of black-on-black violence, except that ours is unmatched in the crudity of the implements of violence and the tenacity with which we insist on handing over the chalice of hate to the coming generation. Some people are not content with Read More…
Another Electoral Heist?
“All those involved in snatching ballot boxes and committing all sorts of voter suppression crimes should be arrested and prosecuted”, declared Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former president in reaction to reported incidents of ballot disruption in Bayelsa State. He spoke the minds of many of his compatriots in different parts of the country who had Read More…