How are the mighty fallen is a popular global maxim. This is a sad moment and anti-climax of events in the lives of the powerful on account of their actions and inactions which gives them out as subjects of disgrace and public opprobrium. Many influential men have walked through this inglorious descent path while discovering though very late the meaning of vanity. This is the case of Godwin Emefiele, ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This calm, humble looking man was typically blinded by the lucre of power, money and influence. The aphorism that power corrupts and absolute…
Author: Sunday Onyemaechi Eze
Idris Addulrahim- The Story of a Disabled Labourer When one thinks of ability in disability – Idris Abdulrahim easily comes to mind. Industrious Physically Challenged Disabled Labourer Thrives in Dan-Hawakin, Kawo, Kaduna State. In fact, he has despite his challenge remained resolute and determined in his quest to defile the odds against him. Idris, a father of three who is approximately 41 years old, experienced a motor accident in 1997 when he was around fifteen years old. As a result, doctors had to amputate his right leg to save his life. At the time of the accident he was an…
Finally, fuel subsidy has been removed. It is gone according to the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is one such removal in the history of the nation without any contingency plan or measures to cushion the effect. The removal was ill-timed and at the same time additional burden. The ripple effect of even a mention of removing subsidy always take drastic toll on Nigerians. Now, it has already started with the exponential increase in the pump rice, market products, hike in transport fare and general cost of living. Good as the spin doctors of this government would want us believe…
The case of David Okemini Ugbo’s organ trafficking plot preferred against Senator Ike Ekweremadus, a popular Nigerian politician and former deputy president of the Senate, his wife Beatrice and Obinna Obeta – a medical doctor in the United Kingdom came to a sad conclusive end on May 5 with the conviction of the three by a judge at the central criminal court also known as old Bailey. Ekweremadu aged 60 bagged a jail term period of nine years and eight months. His wife will serve four years and a fraction of months while Obeta – the doctor was jailed for…
Eventually, the 2023 general elections have come and gone. The winners have emerged as well as gallant losers. Like the previous elections in the country, it was a potpourri of interesting and bizarre episodes. The elections witnessed the good, the very bad and the ugly. Political periods in Nigeria always brings out the best and unfortunately the beasts in all of us. Politicians manipulated their supporters and took advantage of the national fault lines to play divisive politics and fan the embers of violence. This election to say the least was highly manipulated and fraught with irregularities. It revealed the…
There is this palpable feeling of injustice after the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. The nation is sad, very sad. Unlike in 2015 when Buhari defeated the then incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, it was fun and boisterous all over the country especially in northern Nigeria. People felt that their votes counted. Many Buhari’s supporters merried all through the week in clubs, markets and streets; sacrificed rams, cows, waxed songs while some named their male children born at that period after him. A winner must emerge in every contest, however, the process through which the winner emerged matters a lot. Many…
An attempt to delve into what is the place of Ndi Igbo in Lagos and contemporary Nigeria is vital on account of its currency – most especially as the nation goes through yet another electioneering process. The need to know is anchored on the false narrative bandied in the public spaces about the Igbo man planning to take over Lagos. This is utterly amusing. The allegation is specifically borne out of selfish interests and political mischief. Why is it only during elections that the issue of Igbo domination of cities and take over come up? The nation needs to come…
The just concluded February 25 presidential elections will go down in the annals of Nigeria as the most crooked, manipulated and rigged. The much promised and expected free, fair, credible and transparent election never saw the light of the day. The election was awfully conducted to say the least. It ran short of anticipated fairness and transparency. It was a well-choreographed electoral fraud. The uploading/transmission of results electronically from the Poling Units as stipulated by the Electoral Law 2022 as amended was the expected game changer. Many Nigerians who never trusted the electoral process became ardent believers and champions of…
No Nigerian tribe is collectively good or exclusively evil. People, individually are! We need to appropriately address the false narrative and perception that one tribe or the other is either kind, nice or cruel. I write this piece with every sense of objectivity, respect, responsibility and conviction that the information shared below would persuade your prejudiced instincts to reckon well enough that most fairy tales we hear about others may not be true after all. I was born in Enugu and attended early and tertiary education in the state and I can confirm that many Igbos are kind hearted. Some…
The Peter Obi factor is an emerging phenomenon which cannot be wished away as we count down to the 2023 general elections. This factor has altered the already existing political equation thus is one which will substantially shape the outcome of the coming elections. It is an uncommon movement beyond the comprehension and control of those involved including Obi himself. This is a divine journey to take Nigeria back from the political shacks, shackles of poverty, underdevelopment and misery. A man some of the mainstream political system and class once made a public caricature of having no structure is now…
“Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. …and the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.” – Haggai 1: 8, 14. It was a moment of joy for the good people of Ezi-Ukehe, Igbo-Etiti Local Government…
At the mention of Borno state, what readily comes to mind was the devastation Boko Haram insurgency unleashed on the home of peace and by extension the entire North East. Borno became a theatre of war and of the absurd after the gruesome murder of Yusuf Mohammed the pioneer head of Boko Haram insurgents by the police in 2010.Yusuf was captured by the military in the wake of the intensity of the insurgency and handed over to the police as required by the law but he was killed together with some of his adherents by the police under a controversial…
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), “a population census is the total process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analysis and publishing or otherwise disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a time, to all persons in a country or in a well delimited part of a country.” Periodic national population and housing census is a policy thrust of government aimed at improved good governance, effective and efficient national strategic development planning, projections and decision making processes. United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) further emphasised that census data are critical for good governance, policy formulation, development planning, crisis…
The political dice is cast. Presidential flag bearers of political parties and other office holders for the 2023 general elections have emerged. Expectedly, the political space is assuming a concrete shape and frenzied gyration of some sort in the states and at the federal level. The beauty of the 2023 election rests on the fact that; the new Electoral Law 2022 as amended gives a glimmer of hope. Our choices matter and our votes will count henceforth. Results are to be transmitted electronically from Polling Units. This has made it difficult for results to be compromised and fraudulently rigged in…
The quest for Igbo presidency is a legitmate demand. Suffice it to say that other regions are morally bound to oblige Ndi Igbo this exalted position. In view of this, some regional establishments have queued behind the idea. However, notable Igbo political leaders will stop at nothing to undermine it. A good number of them do not even believe in it. Most Igbo politicians who are sustained by other regional perks, interests and political investments will ensure it never sees the light of the day. They are content with playing second fiddle. For them, it is better to protect their…
Efforts geared towards returning to power by all means possible come 2023 was one reason Atiku Abubakar emerged the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Close to that was Atiku’s well-known desperation to become the president of Nigeria. Since 2003, it is public knowledge that he nurses the ambition. He left no one in doubt where he stands as he works assiduously to achieve his aim. That ambition ruined his relationship with ex-president Obasanjo who he worked with as Vice President from 1999-2007. Since 2007, Atiku has flown the flag of one party or the other to fulfill…
The impact of good governance in the country is abysmally low. The level of hardship, austerity and economic crunch is unimaginably high. No doubt, many live below the poverty line. There is already a general sense of apathy. The level of societal mistrust, contempt and indifference to government is now common. We have seen a direct shift from the decadent norm of governance to the catastrophic. There is a wide gulf between the leaders and the led. The dramatic arrival at the anti-climax in good governance and poor leadership gives no room other than the general public distrust and despondency.…
To say that corruption is highly endemic in Nigeria is an understatement. It has vociferously eaten deep into the fabrics of the general society. Consequently, Buhari’s wide acceptance and victory at the 2015 polls was anchored on his avowed stance, determination and commitment to a greater fight against graft. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan was roundly accused of high profile corruption and eventually voted out of power. However, since 2015, the height of corruption is stinking and makes fun of the accusations against the former administration. The acclaimed anti-corruption drive of president Muhammadu Buhari has suffered a self-induced debilitating…
All is fair and foul in politics goes the popular saying. Nigeria is a leading example of nations patronising this absurd political behaviour and crude narrative. In addition, electioneering time creates over zealous political necromancers of various types who often over step the conventional boundaries in the name of playing politics. They are touts who have risen to the responsibility of creating all sorts of uncivil and dangerous political semantics. Last week, politically sponsored posters which flooded Abuja, the federal capital described the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a betrayer. The inscription reads – “The Judas who betrayed his master.…
Popular and hansome Igbo gospel artist Chinedu Nwadike succumbed to the cold hands of death on 27th March, 2022 at the prime age of 39. He left behind a young widow and two kids. Until his death, the “Oku Gbajie Aka Ji Ngozi M” crooner was diagnosed of the twin malady of Kidney failure and Leukemia. For several weeks he painfully agonised under that sick condition at the National Hospital, Abuja until he perhaps found out that the hospital does not have the capacity to handle his case or that they out of “genuine medical professionalism” graciously referred him to…
Nigeria deserves a patriotic and selfless leader at this critical juncture of her checkered history. The nation needs a man whose public actions, utterances and opinions of running government reflects the mood of the nation and the overall interests of majority. Nigeria needs a revolutionary leader who will drive an all-inclusive pluralist democratic process. A man full of wisdom and understanding of the diversity of the nation and its associated political, cultural and religious dynamics. One with the desired temperament; who has held the reins of power and emerged incorruptible. Peter Gregory Obi, the former governor of Anambra State fits…
Local refining of petroleum products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is one panacea to ending the lingering energy crisis facing Nigeria today. However, why the 11th oil producing nation in the world could not refine petroleum products locally is troubling, it is baffling why maintaining even one or four of the existing refineries for over two decades has become problematic or rather a mirage. Since 1999, government has continued to bandy staggering figures it claimed to have ploughed into turn-around maintenance of refineries but there is nothing practically on ground to show. With the perennial fuel scarcity ravaging the country,…
Beyond the tragedy of Ukraine is an age long supremacy battle and ego trip – you may call it existing animosity between both United States of America and Russia. Ukraine’s unfortunate situation fits into the narrative of a cannon fodder. Unfortunately, the blood of innocent Ukrainians and other unlucky nationals caught in the cross-fire are seeds sown to sustain the strategic national interests of both countries. Ukraine is the East European political sacrificial lamb led to the slaughter slab. Those who felt the cold war between America and Russia had ended in 1990 when Mikhail Gorbachev succumbed to the balkanization…
The protest over the propriety of writing the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) by Nigerian students seeking admission into universities and those desirous to work in the United Kingdom is deserving and highly commendable. A right step in the right direction. An online petition on Change.org against IELTS championed by Policy Shaper, demanded for immediate changes in policy of UK Universities, Companies and Organisations asking for proficiency in English test before admission or employment. The petition has continued to gather momentum and support of Nigerians from all walks of life. It garnered over 40,000 staggering number of signatures. Interestingly,…
“For the love of money is the root of all evil.” – I Tim 6:10 The rising cases of ritual killings in Nigeria is unarguably disturbing. Obviously triggered by the get rich-quick-syndrome; one could vividly behold the ugly tar of the menace littered everywhere across the nation. On exponential increase also are other forms of crimes, societal and moral decadence in the forms of consumption of illicit drugs, wire fraud, kidnappings, banditry and armed robbery. In fact, the rate at which the unwholesome trends have permeated the fabric of the society is frightening and unimaginable. Nigeria unfortunately has earned…
The effect of northern political dominance and hegemony in Nigerian politic is not in contention any more. This is why questions have been raised by some concerned individuals why one region should continue to rule or dominate virtually the political affairs of the country. Of course this is treated with levity like most validly raised Nigerian concerns. Political attempts to correct the skewed balance inherent in one region dominating the political space since independence have proved abortive. Those favoured by the imbalance will sabotage efforts to mend the already bent tripod stand. The nearest attempt of a southerner becoming elected…
Nigeria’s dream of emerging the African Football Champion for the fourth time at the AFCON fiesta in Cameroon was cut short by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia. The Super Eagles suffered a 1-0 defeat in the second half of the elimination stage. It was very painful. Nigerians are bitter. Others are in tears too. It was expected that the stellar performance displayed by the Eagles in the preliminary stages will be maintained. However, the line up for the crucial stage could not live up to the expectation. That is football. You cannot win all the time. It is instructive to…
Enugu State politics is very interesting and strategic. The fact that the state was the capital of the old Eastern Region made it even more intriguing. Since 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held sway in governance of the state for uninterrupted 21years. Therefore, the party has become a choice platform for all manner of aspirants. This has made the battle of who occupies the Lion Building an uphill task among contenders. More often than not, the choice of governorship candidates especially of the PDP come with surprises. Evidently, since 1999, most front line governorship aspirants in the ruling…
Sylvester Oromoni The Police Report released on the cause of Sylvester Oromoni’s death is a sad reminder of a nation in dire need of integrity and official honesty. It revealed that the 12 years old died of natural cause. “Death was caused by septicemia, following infections of the lungs and kidneys arising from the ankle wound.” The police said the first autopsy result carried out in Warri attributed cause of death to acute bacteria, pneumonia due to severe sepsis. While the second done in Lagos hinged the cause of death to septicemia, lobar pneumonia with acute pyelonephritis and phyomyositis of…
The raw show of power and authority displayed at Magodo Estate Phase II in Lagos state by the political and security timber and calibre comes with heightened interest. Scene one was opened with an unscheduled visit to the estate by the Commissioner of Police Lagos state, Hakeem Odumosu with the full paraphernalia of office. Siren blaring. He was denied access by the Private Security Guards for failure to disclose the particular house or person he intended to visit. Irked by the audacity of “bloody civilians” in uniform to stop a whole CP from meeting a strategic partner;.some of the guards…
