With the death on Monday, 7 March of Dr Doyin Okupe, twice a presidential spokesman, Nigeria has been deprived of a pan-Nigerian politician. Okupe, who died of cancer at 72 in a Lagos hospital, was free of the primordial tendencies that have over the years made our country underachieve, despite stupendous resources. Though he and Chief Moshood Abiola, the Social …

Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, the fifth democratically elected Governor of Abia State and the proud and worthy son of Late Pastor and Shepherdess Lazarus Weze Otti of Umuru, Umuehim village in Ehi Na Uhuru Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, is 60 years old today (Tuesday). A man of honour, integrity, candour, and determination, Otti has been a marvel …

The deliberate destruction of the Nigerian university environment began in earnest with the appointment of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu as the Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral umpire, known then as the National Electoral Commission. Nwosu was a lecturer at the Political Science department of the University of Nigeria when General Ibrahim Babangida called him up in 1989 for the position following the …

I had paid him a visit late December, the previous year, at Bogobiri where he was recuperating. We both agreed the worse was over. I even teased him that a musical work was waiting for him at the studios and we can’t wait to have him back. Of course, he replied in the affirmative. Few days to this fateful day, …

One of Africa’s most accomplished scholars and an eminent traditional ruler Igwe (Prof.) Laz Ekwueme, Eze Ijikala II of Ozoiko, Igwe Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, is 90 years today. He is sub-Saharan Africa’s first Professor of Music and is recognised as the best academically trained music scholar, composer and performer in Africa. He is …

During the Third Republic, General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime conducted elections of civilian governors for the 36 states and followed by the presidential election, which was later annulled. That election was presumably won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola of Social Democratic Party over Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. In the ensuing struggle for civilian rule, which transversed Generals Babangida, Sani …

When Rosalynn Carter (nicknamed the ‘Steel Magnolia’) died on 19 November, last year at the age of 96, her husband, Jimmy had already achieved the record of becoming the longest-living President in United States history four years earlier, when the 39th American president reached the age of 94 years and 172 days, on 22 March 2019. That feat made him …

President Bola Tinubu has extended his deepest condolences to the government and people of the United States of America on the passing of their 39th President, Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on Sunday. Carter was a beacon of service to humanity, demonstrating to leaders worldwide the profound impact of dedication beyond the highest office. As a …

I still find it difficult to come to terms with the sudden demise of Rafatu Salami. We only knew each other as practising journalists, but our first physical contact happened when I joined the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria. That was at the three-day conference of the International Press Conference in October 2023, held at Ikeja GRA. I can attest …

Mrs. Mary Kudaru began to say a prayer, and so I stood still, folded my arms across my chest, and bowed my head in all humility of spirit. She called on God to guide us safely from Jos, Plateau State, to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. I was standing just behind the ambulance, just after the long black bag containing the body …