The Kano State Government has declared Thursday a public holiday to mark the beginning of the Islamic New Year, 1447 AH. According to a statement on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, Governor, Abba Yusuf congratulated Muslim faithful on witnessing the New Year, which begins with the month of Muharram, the first month of …

I thought I was seeing double when I first saw the report on social media that the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the professional body to which I belong, has bestowed a ‘Lifetime’ award on the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. Remember him? Impunity, recklessness, and controversy trailed Yahaya Bello while in office. His regime was not …

Many qualities define a leader, whether in politics or in the corporate world but integrity, humility and loyalty tower above all. A cursory look at the life and times of successful leaders often reveals these qualities and why such leaders are celebrated by their subjects. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s life and career trajectory can be said to …

As the first governor of Kwara State, Brigadier David Laisi Bamigboye began the process of reconciliation in 1967 long before the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon made the ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’ proclamation at the formal end of the civil war on 15 January 1970. Bamigboye, then a 27-year-old Major, had as wife, Mrs. Chinyere Beatrice Bamigboye (nee …

Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States of America is indeed an enigma. If he doesn’t exist America would have invented one. In a world that has slipped into ungodliness you need mad Republican presidents like Nixon, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush and Trump to sustain the macho image of America. In his …

Allow me to wish you a happy birthday in arrears, Your Excellency. A few days ago, I came across a portrait of you as a young man, and could not help but wonder how time flies. Looking at a younger version of you from many years ago, it is worth thanking God that you turned 66 years old this month. …

Power politics in the animal kingdom could be as intense, deceptive and selfish as it is in the human kingdom. An ancient African allegory whose patent cannot be credited to a particular tradition, illustrates this. It is the fable of an old forest warhorse, the lion. After years of feasting on animals, his mane soaked in their innocent blood, Old …

Any insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours, a government official has a hand in it – General Sani Abacha. “Finally, Mr. President has moved out of his comfort zone in the Presidential villa…” “That is not true! The President has moved on a countless number of occasions from the Villa. He is not a recluse like his predecessor. I …

It has been four days since Mr. President visited Benue State. I have had time to reflect, to listen again, and to consider the tone, substance, and symbolism of that visit. And truth must be spoken, with all the sobriety that our grief demands, these are my thoughts. 1. A “townhall meeting” was promised — a platform to engage with …

For Nigeria and the outside world, 2 August 1997 was a black day; unforgettable, particularly for musicians. It was a day Fela Anikulapo-Kuti died of opportunistic ailments caused by the dreaded  Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS, as announced to the world and his fans by his immediate elder brother, Prof. Olikoya Ramsome-Kuti, at a crowded press conference inside the then …