There is a shadowy group of powerful Nigerians once described as the “owners of Nigeria”. They can be counted on our fingertips – not more than five of them. If you add their foot soldiers, then, they may be up to 10 or a dozen. They decide who rules and who does not. They decide the direction the country goes …

One by one, three Nigerian former military rulers, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, arrived at Babangida’s Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, last Sunday. So did former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Gusau. The Minna meeting had every trapping of African witches assembling at the coven. Like owls, a pervasive symbol of African witchcraft, did they …

To the younger generation, especially the Gen Z who have a very scant knowledge about Nigerias political history and the struggle for democracy and the rule of law, the name, Colonel Yohanna Madaki (rtd.) might neither ring a bell nor strike a chord of familiarity.  This is especially so in a country like ours where the leaders are scared stiff …

The Nigerian football community has been thrown into mourning over the death of former Stationery Stores FC star, Ibrahim Babangida, in an automobile crash on Thursday. The elder Tijani Babangida, who played for the Super Eagles as well as Ajax Amsterdam, was also involved in the accident along with his wife, son and maid.  Tijani escaped unhurt in the crash, while …

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has said his greatest achievement as Nigeria’s leader was to know more about the country and make friends across board while adopting coercion and pleading as leadership styles. He said in an exclusive interview with FUT Minna Search FM Radio that he would advise younger Nigerians aspiring to lead the country to seek to …

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 …

A young man was led into my office as the editor of The PUNCH one day decades ago; his name: Ibe Eresia-Eke (where is he now?), Executive Chairman (as title-crazy Nigerians often over-burden the title “Chairman” as if, standing alone, it is not “executive” enough!) of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State. He should be happy  being an …

Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has returned to Nigeria following two months in Switzerland for medical checkups. It was gathered that the former president flew on a chartered airplane on Thursday and arrived at Minna, his hometown, on his way to Abuja. It is important to remember that General Babangida left the country on Saturday, January …

When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground, says Amadou Hampate Ba, Malian writer, historian, and ethnologist (1901-1991). And so it was with frontline journalist, essayist and image maker of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) military administration, Chief Duro Onabule, who passed away 16 August 16. It was about five weeks shy of his 83rd birthday. Yes, …