Veteran Nigerian composer, singer, instrumentalist, band leader and undisputable legend of juju music, King Sunny Ade (abbreviated KSA) released a classic early 1976. It was in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Nigeria’s charismatic military Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed by mutineers on Friday 13th February 1976. Bukar Suka Dimka, a cranky army Lt. Colonel, led the …

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu yesterday warned pilgrims to strictly adhere to the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He cautioned them against travelling with materials and drugs that are forbidden in the Holy Land. According to him, no one will go and plead for anyone arrested for flouting the laws of Saudi Arabia. The Governor spoke …

Last week, I travelled to Ibadan, and returned the same way: on the coaches of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The trips were not only heartwarming and relieving, they welled up nostalgic memories of my earliest interactions with the operations of the NRC close to 40 years ago. Thursday, 18th May, we drove into the old Agege station (now renamed …

Which of the following three things do you think should break Ibrahim Babangida’s heart the most: The opportunity he missed being a national hero and an international statesman with the annulment of the 12th June 1993 presidential election won fair and square by Moshood Abiola; the death of his wife Maryam; and his present state of health? Despite Babangida’s many …

Change, change. Sai Baba, sai Baba. The words that filled the streets on Tuesday, 31st March 2015 after the then President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and congratulated Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the presidential election. Sadly, the darkness and chaos to come was unprecedented and drastic. Buhari emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC), established in February 2013, as …

Release the leader in you gives you some ideas, methods, and tips that will make you think and help let loose your leadership skills. So this article is not about a certain type of person or position of power, or one at the top of an organisation or board of directors.  It is about YOU. What is a leader? What …

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has advised Nigerian pilgrims to abide by the rules and regulations during this year’s Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia. The commission made this disclosure during the 2023 Hajj inaugural flight at the pilgrims’ terminal in Abuja on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Faisal bin Ibrahim …

The title of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s account of his stewardship as Nigeria’s President kept plodding in my mind as I thought through a heading for this piece. Nigeria’s third President of the Fourth Republic authored My Transition Hours, which was published in 2018. It captures the breathtaking frenzy and flurry of activities and developments preceding, and immediately following his contest …

After weeks of being at daggers drawn over the results of the last general elections and with only days to the inauguration of a new government on May 29, one of Nigeria’s three biggest pastimes – food – appears to be bringing people together again. On a good day, the country swoons over football or music. In the last two …

By design or default, politics – like governance – is an art and a craft of infinite variations. It is definable in hope and despair; expectation and doubt; fair play and chicanery. In its art form, the ideals of democracy are dainty and purposive. This product of the fine points of human nurture ,natural justice and democratic culture was founded …