The fundamental idea behind the coming into being of an organised human society is for the protection of their lives and property. Hitherto, man in his natural state was lawless, violent and primitively selfish, but later found out that the only way to ensure self-preservation and inter-generational survival was to set...... more
Confidence is a feeling of trust in someone or something. It connotes freedom from doubt. It is one of the most important foundations upon which legitimacy and sustainability of political systems are built. Public confidence is essential for social cohesion and well-being as it affects government’s ability to govern, and enables...... more
At morning assembly, the school proprietress addresses her students. She is incensed, as she paces in front of students. She glances in the direction of some students and her eyes lock with those of a student. The student lowers her gaze and head, promptly. The West African Examination Council (WAEC) administer,...... more
On 7th November, I was in Afiesere, Ughelli for the Service of Songs for late Pa James Okpako Edevbie, father of Olorogun David Edevbie, Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor. At the end of the ceremony, each guest was handed a take-away food pack. Congregated outside the venue was...... more
Pope John Paul the second is, perhaps, one of the few modern-day popes that made significant impact in the annals of the sacred papacy as a constantly travelling holy father who practically touched down on virtually all continents of the world. In Nigeria cosmology, there is this joke about a man...... more
Every so often, Nigerians devise a grievance and stipulate the solution. Since our latest embrace of civilian governance and over several years, the clamour was for a sovereign national conference. The Sovereign National Conference was for Nigerians to talk with each other on how to live together in the same Nation....... more
The biggest news of the day is that one of the richest men on planet earth, Michael Bloomberg, has officially announced his late-entry into the United States’ Democratic presidential bid by unveiling a campaign that he, former New York mayor, said will be squarely aimed at defeating President Donald Trump. The...... more
In contributing to the series, “It takes a Minister”, I shared my thoughts on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, a few weeks ago. This ministry is so important in our ongoing circumstances. What the ministry can accomplish in the face of our development challenges would be...... more
On instinct or by impulse, the heading of this write-up suggests that due to terrorism, high crime rate, mass killings and unprecedented rate of poverty, the well-being of babies is not guaranteed in Nigeria. If you agree with the above, you may not be too far from the truth. But there...... more
Recognising an injustice is the first step. Seeking help or doing something about it depends on some parameters, including the magnitude of the injustice, the likelihood of the continuation of that injustice if nothing is done to curb it, and the identity of the perpetrator(s). If the injustice hurts, act. If...... more
The visitation panels recently constituted by Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State obviously dismantled my prolonged silence on political and contemporary issues. The fact-finding emissary to government-owned tertiary institutions, namely; Imo State University Owerri, Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu and Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, is expediently cheering news for lovers...... more
Kogi and Bayelsa states have just come out of what I call electoral baptism of fire, which the highly compromised and inept hierarchy of the YAKUBU MAHMOOD-(misled) Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already declared candidates of its choicest political family – the All Progressives Congress (APC) - as winners of...... more
For over two years now, I have got used to always supporting the military veterans who usually celebrate their remembrance day: I think some time every January or so. There is this particular lady air force operative that coordinates one of the activities to attract citizen-led support for the marking of...... more
Street thugs and their operations – extortions, harassment, victimisation, threats, excessive use of power, gang-running – are easily identifiable. Upon entering a crowded neighbourhood, one is instantly menaced by their presence. Extrapolate this situation to the academia. When thugs earn the qualifications required to be a part of an academic institution,...... more
This week, we take a little break from the theme, “it takes a minister”, that we have been developing through fortnightly articles to inform governance perspectives. So that we can provide some general background on the relationship between the economy, money, and development. A recent encounter got me seriously thinking about...... more
As a leader in the organised Civil Rights community, with a special interest on ways and means of mainstreaming respect of the fundamental human rights of the citizenry in all internal military operations, I have been naturally inclined to following up on the information that filtered out about a nationwide internal...... more
In nations and communities where a woman’s right to choose her husband is trampled, condemnations on the Internet will not alter the reality on the ground, unless proponents of anti-women practices read the words of their neighbours online. Unless one’s remarks online are read and discussed by persons in the real...... more
No doubt, two phenomena that have sprang up on the African continent - the persistent xenophobic violence of black South Africans against other black Africans living in South Africa, and the month-long closure of all land borders by Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari – constitute cogs in the wheel of any sort...... more
“Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well”, is a very universally acceptable aphorism. Another wise saying that shares the same etymological resemblance with the above is that which was uttered from the mouth...... more
Prejudice hurts. The recipient has several options: seek redress in court or through other lawful means, or simply step away. In normal societies where the decisions of an individual may be influenced by religion, race, and ethnic affiliation, the recipient usually observes the above. When one’s nuptial proposal is rejected on...... more
On 15th October, the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), announced that “all goods, for now, are banned from being exported or imported through our land borders and that is to ensure that we have total control over what comes in”. He added: “We are strategizing...... more
In my last article, I suggested that we are worsening the already difficult environment in our country. We now have a survivalist environment and mentality in which individualism is growing rapidly at the expense of the community. This is having serious impact on our country. What one person does affects other...... more
Socrates is a fascinating thinker and one of the original fathers of philosophy – a course which implicitly is defined as the love of wisdom. Hence a remarkable affirmation for which Socrates is associated with is that which states: “Man know thyself, for an unexamined life is not worth living.” As...... more
I still have not figured how rape and marriage should occur in the same sentence. But, there you have it. It even forms part of the title of this article. However, marital rape is a very serious concern. Any marriage devoid of physical attraction and intimacy between the couple falls into...... more
Since coming on board for the second time as head of state but as an elected leader of Nigeria for the first time in the year 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to bring to justice suspected armed Fulani attackers responsible for killings of over six thousand rural farmers across Nigeria....... more
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has just effected a change of name of the routine military exercises that the Nigerian Army usually organises in South-East of Nigeria, just as it simultaneously host same exercises in the other regions with peculiar code-names to reflect the symbolism of the...... more
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest developing regions in the world. Population growth, expanding economic performance and a wealth of natural resources sit alongside dynamic political developments and an increasingly vocal civil society. However, diverse parts of the continent still struggle with dictatorial regimes, omnipresent corruption, and assertive malign foreign...... more
Are there different socio-cultural perceptions of marriage between the two genders? Are men expected to be wealthy, educated, and established before marriage? Do women need to be passive, less educated, or illiterate to be considered a valuable wife? Do the society approve of the wedding between very old men and much...... more
Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil, is home to about 44 solid minerals, has an amazing population and in a state of development that makes it a choice investment destination. However, recent recurrent events all over the world speak to a downturn in the fortunes of...... more
We cannot continue in denial. Our problems are growing faster than we are solving them. We cannot sustain this model much longer. Our country is not meeting the economic, social and cultural needs of the majority of Nigerians. Not because it cannot, but, because we are self-harming. We should begin to...... more