Author: Chief Editor

Wole Soyinka This year’s recall of an uplifting day in the year 1993 comes up against a background of its most shameful disavowal: the 2019 elections — still under judicial contestation — an event that would be more accurately described as an exercise in body count rather than ballot count. The elections however merely reflected a pattern of savagery and abandonment of human sensibilities that have eaten away the sheerest sense of community in the nation. I have already described it as the final descent into the abyss of human degradation. The recent call — no matter how suspect the…

Jide Ojo WITH a consensus unknown in the past, Nigerians will today rise to uphold the sacredness of June 12 as an essential milestone in the democratic history of the country. For the first time, the country will, with one accord, mark the date as a public holiday, instead of the past practice where that gesture was confined to a handful of states, primarily in the South-West. As Nigerians celebrate June 12 today, there should be a collective resolve that never again should the country experience such a gangster treatment foisted by a few individuals hell-bent on pursuing their ambition…

By REUBEN ABATI It is ironic that it had to take a member of the military establishment now turned democrat, that is General, now President Muhammadu Buhari for June 12 to be accorded its pride of place in the socio-political calendar of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Before now, the recognition/celebration of June 12 as a watershed in Nigerian history had been observed majorly by the states of the South West of Nigeria, thus making its symbolism and significance a restricted and ethnic referent. But that has changed, thanks to President Buhari. His decision to declare June 12 a national…

BY ALEX OTTI  “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”  Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Mr. John Aboh, popularly called “Uncle John” by his younger friends like us, is a great banker. He is a man full of wisdom and wits. Sometimes, he would drop rib-cracking jokes while keeping a straight face such that listeners would be wondering whether it was he who actually cracked the joke. I had the privilege of working with him in three different financial institutions in the past. In one…

Two months after he resigned as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), President Muhammadu Buhari last night in Abuja announced the acceptance of the voluntary retirement of Justice Walter Onnoghen with effect from May 28, 2019. A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari thanked the former jurist for his services to the nation and wished him a meaningful retirement period. “Meanwhile, President Buhari has accepted the voluntary retirement from service of Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria, effective from May 28, 2019. “The President thanked Justice…

By: Eze Onyekpere It has been 12 days since Muhammadu Buhari took a new oath of office which would enable him govern Nigeria for the next four years as the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces. Before the elections, one could hear Nigerians yearn for change, a new way of doing things, improvement in governance and service delivery, etc. However, if the results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission reflect the popular votes, Nigerians voted for continuity in the expectation of change. There was the popular expectation that the President would have learnt a few lessons…

Mike Onwukwe I want to be optimistic about Nigeria, but it is just so hard to do so. It takes time to develop chemistry with Nigeria even with her hypereducated population due to several ruinous factors embedded in the system. I love my country but hate her government and one of the few reasons why I love my country is the overflowing steam of limitless possibilities. Sadly, Nigeria may have been crafted to fulfil some Bible injunctions because as it stands now, insecurity has driven the knife into our hearts and has reached a pandemic level. What purpose does it…

Ayo Olukotun Next Wednesday, June 12, is the first time in our history, when the anniversary will be celebrated nationally with all the paraphernalia of official recognition. From a commemoration observed by scattered bands of devotees, members of the Abiola family, and human rights activists, confined mainly to the South-West, June 12 has now mutated into a national observance and symbol of nationhood in the same class with other national holidays, totems and identity markers of statehood. Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the martyr of the struggle, has been awarded the highest national honour that a Nigerian could be given, while initiatives…

Oludare Mayowa On Wednesday, May 29, President Mohammadu Buhari and 29 new state governors took the oath of office for the next four years in office. While President Buhari was taking the oath for a second term in office, some of the 29 governors who took the oath were doing so for the first term, because they were taking over from those who had finished either their second terms in office or those not re-elected at the last elections. Three governors fell into the categories of those who failed to get re-election for a second term in office, and they…

By Nkereuweme-Ndiana With the swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term tenure, the next great expectations from Nigerians will be to see the characters that will constitute the cabinet of the president for the next four years. Already, the President has assured that unlike what happened during his first tenure, Nigerians will not have to wait six months this time around to see the list of his cabinet members. While the President will be expected to keep to his promise on the early appointment of the ministers, the quality, virtues and moral standing of those to be appointed,…