Author: Ozodinukwe Okenwa

Make no mistake about it: the third world war is here with us! The difference between the previous global-wide military conflicts and the current one being staged grotesquely in Ukraine is perhaps found in its proxy nature. Ever since the dictator of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, decided to invade Ukraine ten months ago in late February the world has inched closer to a global conflict which could include nuclear arsenal. The third world war is getting ever closer as international relations deteriorate with power-drunk leaders hell-bent on fostering their inordinate political ambition. And testing their massive military armoury including nuclear war-heads.…

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Despite his vindictive political manners, his occasional display of hubris and ‘Babacracy’, the corrupted version of true democracy, Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian imperious President, remains an enigma. A patriot and statesman few among his peers could claim a better international commanding clout and credibility. Like him or loathe him ‘Baba’ is as constant as the northern star! Very few among us have had the rare privilege of seeing it all, paying their dues in terms of service to the motherland. As a military dictator in the 70s General Obasanjo ruled Nigeria as a reluctant leader, one whose fortune changed…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa The year 2022 had come and gone with a bang; its troubles and problems never to be seen again! Time is of significant essence here given the fact that when we started the year on the first of January last year humanity began a ‘blind’ journey pregnant with uncertainties. Sadly, however, not all of us that started that journey could terminate the race for survival. Many were abandoned by the wayside; others were sent to their graves and many others mourned their losses. As survivors we are alive to tell the story by God’s grace! 365 days…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa Fellow Nigerians, warm seasonal greetings to you all! It has given me great delight to deliver this new year address, one that represents my last as your President and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces. Following the recent global celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ the year 2023 will dawn on us in the next intervening hours from now. How time flies! I shall be brief but blunt and brutally frank in this intervention, a special end of the year message. Allah has been very kind to me (especially now that he has restored my health!). At…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa Mr Chairman, Mr ‘Hitman’, the able and generous organizer, ladies and gentlemen, bonsoir a toute et a tous! (Good evening to everyone!) It is with great Yuletide delight that I stand before you all to deliver this lecture on Christmas, the origin and the meaning. I bow and tremble before you all here present — apology to the late hanged Ken Saro-Wiwa, the great Ogoni environmental crusader and playwright. Standing before the late maximum ruler on that fateful day Saro-Wiwa had uttered those words (I bow and tremble, General!) as he met Gen. Sani Abacha to implore…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa The Yuletide annual season, in its global uniqueness and greatness, is upon us once again. Christmas, the glorious birth of Jesus the Christ, is celebrated yearly on the 25th December by the Christendom the world over. Since it is universally marked just a week prior to the end of the year festivities all and sundry partake in it mindless of religion, region, race or culture. It is, therefore, that special time in a year when holidays are taken for granted, at home or abroad, either for Xmas or New Year. The week leading to the new year (starting from…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa Simon Ekpa (also known as Ifeanyi Njoku), the Finland-based Nigeria-born Biafran self-styled secessionist activist, was born on March 21, 1985, in Ohaukwu LGA, Ebonyi State in South-eastern Nigeria. He leads the so-called “Auto Pilot”, a terrorist group terrorizing citizens of Biafraland. He is said to be a ‘disciple’ of the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, prior to his illegal kidnapping and rendition to Nigeria from Kenya, had appointed Ekpa as a broadcaster on the pirate international Radio Biafra. Ekpa is a Finnish citizen and he is reportedly married to…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential poll of February next year, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has demonstrated his capacity for hubris on many occasions. Since he used the stolen money in his possession to buy the candidacy he believes he is beyond any reproach. He grandstands and talks trash to opponents, placing himself beyond scrutiny. But Nigerians know why Tinubu is running away from public accountability. He is suffering from physical and mental deficiency for which hiding from public glare becomes a saving grace. How long he would continue hiding…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the former National Chairman of the ruling APC party and ex-Governor of Edo State, is an enigma. He is a man trying very hard to bounce back to national reckoning after a few years of political oblivion. The Comrade from Edo rose to national prominence when he led the Labour union decades ago making a name for himself for his intrepidity, lucidity and professionalism. The late labour legends like Tai Solarin and Michael Imoudu must be proud of the diminutive man from Iyamho, near Auchi, who did his very best to voice out…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa Terrorism is a global menacing anti-civilisation phenomenon! Since 2011 World Trade Centre horrific terrorist attack in New York, the US, the world has known little or no peace! Then, about 2,977 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history! Two planes, hijacked by Islamic jihadists vowing death to all Americans, plowed into both towers at the World Trade Center in New York. Another plane was flown into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The late Osama Bin-Laden was the brain behind the horror of 9/11. The Saudi-born Islamic dissident had founded the pan-Islamic jihadist…

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By Ozodinukwe Okenwa In sub-Saharan Africa there are two Pauls in power, one in Yaounde and the other in Kigali, both brutal dictators ruling their respective countries, Cameroun and Rwanda, with iron fist. The Cameroonian Paul Piya and Rwandese Paul Kagame have nothing but brutal dictatorship in common. Following the resignation of the late President Ahmadou Ahidjo for health reasons Paul Biya took control of the bi-lingual country as President. And he has spent forty uninterrupted years  in power craftily using rigged elections, intimidation and state terrorism to remain perpetually in power. President Biya could spend months abroad catering…

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Recently in the United States, a high-profile trial took place involving the founder of the collapsed healthcare company called Thenaros, Elizabeth Holmes. At 38 Holmes was relatively younger when she left her studies at the University to start a new healthcare company valued at $10 billion way back in 2014 guaranteeing her a great fortune. She sold an image of a cognoscente, a rare gem out to ameliorate the diseases (some incurable) ravaging mankind. She had claimed fraudulently that her company had remarkable technology, one capable of diagnosing a number of medical conditions from a mere drop of blood! At…

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Penultimate week, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, was in the news internationally for some scandalous sexual reasons. A top South African lawmaker, Zanele Sifuba, the Speaker of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) Free State legislature, had accused him of being behind the release of her nude video online! The SA politician never minced words in naming her nemesis pointing accusing fingers toward his direction. She confessed that they were lovers! An executive Governor of a flood-ravaged oil-rich state in Nigeria dating a political amazon in Mandela-land? Wonders shall never end in politics Nigeriana! According to her: “This is the picture of…

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The global soccer fiesta, FIFA World Cup, just began in Doha, Qatar, last weekend. The four-year event features 32 teams representing every continent of the world. The FIFA World Cup remains the most prestigious world-wide football tournament lasting close to one month. The world over as soon as the world cup begins every other soccer activity is suspended as soccer fans focus on the next world champion. Great national teams would be competing fiercely for national and global soccer glory. Africa is not left out of the jamboree of the beautiful game as she is represented by five national teams…

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Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, is a gentleman who was a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. As an economist he distinguished himself as the CBN Governor reforming the banking system and posting landmark achievements. He has since moved on moving up the political ladder by winning the Anambra State governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Having been craving for the position he now occupies (including being beaten to it in the distant past by ex-Governor Peter Obi) it is conceivable that Prof. Soludo may be nursing a…

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The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, was formed in 1998 or thereabout following the formation of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Founding members included the late Chief Abraham Adesanya as its first leader and late Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader. Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Adegbonmire, Okurounmu Femi, Ganiyu Dawodu, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Adeyemo and Ayo Adebanjo. While Afenifere has experienced highs and lows it has managed to stay together until now. Politics has somehow brought out the ‘beast’ in some of its leaders lately! Since the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, died…

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The gubernatorial poll is scheduled to hold in Lagos State like in many states of the federation in February next year. The Lagos guber election is going to be contested fiercely between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). An incumbent APC Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is up against the Oxford University-trained convener of the Lagos4Lagos political Movement, Dr. Olajide Adeniran, better known as Jandor. Jandor’s running mate is one Nollywood actress and business tycoon called Funke Akindele. Asiwaju Tinubu waxed dictatorial, omnipotent and godfatherly recently when he dismissed the woman asking his supporters not…

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Penultimate weekend the 82-year old husband of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Pelosi, was brutally attacked inside the couple’s home at San Francisco by a young man, David DePape, armed with a hammer! The controversial Speaker herself was not at home when the assailant struck at wee hours of the night. As he broke into the house DePape was shouting “where’s Nancy?, where’s Nancy?”. Mr Pelosi was saved a brutal ‘hammering’ because he dialled the police while pretending to answer the call of nature. The local Police swiftly responded, intervening timely. The law enforcement officers met…

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The 2023 presidential poll in Nigeria is bound definitely to produce a ‘revolutionary’ outcome that would make or mar our beloved fatherland’s chances at self-redemption. The months-long electioneering campaign is getting more and more interesting as parties and their candidates battle it out for electoral momentum. Thus far, out of the eighteen officially-approved candidates only three (BAT, Atiku, Obi) are visible online and offline. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a formidable media team that includes Dino Melaye, Daniel Bwala, Phrank Shaibu and the Ovation magazine Chief Executive, Dele Momodu. Momodu has since joined ‘them’, having failed to realise…

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The Islamic Republic of Iran is globally reputed to be a rogue state! Like North Korea she is desperately developing nuclear weapons. While the rest of the civilised world are busy seeking ways to improve humanity amidst climatic, COVID pandemic and social challenges Iran and North Korea are only interested in nuclear armament. While the former concentrates its efforts at becoming a nuclear power (possessing nuke bombs) the latter, despite multiple dissuasive Western sanctions, is trying surreptitiously to arm herself with the big dirty bombs. Besides, Iran exports terrorism across the borders! She hates Isreal with unqualified passion and the…

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The unprecedented insecurity ravaging Nigeria has visited almost every nook and cranny of the federation, the rich and the poor. Even the President himself had been threatened openly with abduction! The terrorists are emboldened daily by the apparent non-chalant aloof attitude of those whose responsibility it is to bring them to book. His state, Katsina, has had its fair share of insecurity and instability. Like other parts of the country, east and west, north and south, security challenges are increasing on a daily basis. Governor Aminu Masari is overwhelmed by the resurgence of attacks against the law-abiding citizens of the…

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After about 44 odd days at the 10 Downing Street in London the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, had just thrown in the towel resigning from a tough demanding job she seemed unprepared for and incapable of executing. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy and a monarchy. Just days before the demise of Queen Elizabeth 11 who ruled the UK for seventy unbroken years Truss had replaced Boris Johnson who was forced to resign following scandals — partying, lying et al. Ms Truss defeated Rishi Sunak to become the third female Prime Minister in British political history. Others before…

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Last weekend the presidential election campaign shifted temporarily to Kaduna as the three frontline contenders for the top job were on the ground in different fora. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, the ruling All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi — all were attending different socio-political events in the Arewa city up north. Obi was in Kaduna for his campaign stop-over and Governor Nasir el-Rufai decided to ratchet up an unfortunate incident that happened in Awka, Anambra State, a decade ago. Governor el-Rufai has administratively turned Kaduna into a killing field where terrorists…

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Last weekend in Abuja a judicial bombshell was dropped as regards the continued persecution and prosecution of the detained Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Buhari-led regime. Following his audacious extraordinary abduction and subsequent rendition to Nigeria last year from Kenya Kanu has been having his days in court. And Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court was alleged to have been acting out a script from non-judicial executive quarters. President Muhammadu Buhari had maintained that Kanu must be given the opportunity to prove his case in court. As if the independence of our…

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Last weekend, the Director of Special Media Projects and Operations and New Media for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, was in his very best vitriolic caustic element lambasting the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his ‘Obi-dient’ supporters. Fani-Kayode was irked apparently when Obi declared that he would only respond to comments about him made directly by his opponents and not their spokespersons or aides. In a series of tweets on his Twitter page he had provocatively attacked Obi and ‘Obi-dients’, saying they could only secure the 4th position in the 2023 presidential election. Describing Peter Obi…

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Last Thursday the ailing ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2023 presidential poll, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, returned to Nigeria after spending close to two weeks undergoing medical examination and treatment (reportedly) in London. He was welcomed home with pomp and pageantry by APC party faithfuls. Wearing a suit and papa’s cap Tinubu was shown on video online alighting from the jet that brought him back home. For the loquacious Spokesman of the APC presidential campaign council, Minister Festus Keyamo, “the Eagle has landed”, he had tweeted. Days before his return ‘Jagaban’ had released a tweet…

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Few weeks ago the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, had caused a controversy in the United States when she declared recklessly during a fund-raising event that her husband, President Julius Maada Bio, held a PhD degree in staging coups, therefore nobody could ever overthrow him! In a video shared on Facebook, she had these to say: “Maada Bio has a PhD in coup d’état, can you remove him?… the man has a PhD in staging coups, how can you remove someone who teaches people how to stage a coup?” Glorifying putsch or just stupid grandstanding? Well, Madam…

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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine came to power by accident of fame or showbusiness. He was neither a politician nor a technocrat but a movie star. Born on 25 January 1978 he is married to Olena Kiyachko, a dashing elegant lady he met in the university as a student in Kiev. And the marriage is blessed with two children, Oleksandra and Kirilo. Nothing prepared him for the presidency except playing in a 2015 serialised televised humorous movie titled ‘The People’s Servant’ (Sluha Naroda). He professionally played the role of a College Professor, Vasyl Holoborodko, who went on, despite the odds,…

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Fellow Nigerians, It has given me tremendous delight to address you all today in this propitious national event. In the next intervening hours, as you are patriotically well aware, our great nation, the giant of Africa, would be marking a milestone in her journey towards nationhood. Sixty two years ago Nigeria became an independent nation. On that fateful day, October the first 1960, the colonial Union Jack flag was imperially lowered in Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos and the Green-White-Green flag was hoisted in its stead. Our political founding fathers — the late Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro, Obafemi…

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Last week Monday the British centuries-old imperial tradition and culture (a mixture of medieval and modern tradition almost a thousand years old!) was on full display as the monarchy organized a state, nay global, funeral for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who died few days prior at a ripe age of 96. She ruled the British and other Commonwealth nations as ceremonial Head of State for the seventy eventful years she sat on the throne! Hundreds of world leaders (Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers etc) including some high-profile clergymen joined the royal family in London to bid a deserving…

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