Lagos has itself to blame
Now that “governotorial” elections are over, and a winner has emerged as Governor-elect of Lagos State, it’s time for some home truths for indigenes of Lagos, who sold “even” their heritage lands to people they regard as “atohunrinwa,” and now go about bellyaching when the so-called aliens now insult them. Of course, it is insensitive, […]
Fortes and the foibles of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections
Nigeria’s seventh general elections in this Fourth Republic has come and gone but the ripples will take a while to settle. I was an Independent National Electoral Commission accredited observer in the election under the platform of Nigerian Women Trust Fund. As the saying goes, “one eye witness is of more weight than ten hearsays.” […]
Where is economics in Nigeria’s elections?
A friend called me from the United States of America immediately after Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was declared winner of the presidential election, to ask whether Nigerians are actually suffering economically the way it is being projected in the media. He was surprised that people could still vote for the All Progressive Congress at the highest […]
Citizens must demand accountability from govs
EVIDENCE emerges regularly that governance at the sub-national level in Nigeria is particularly dismal and marked by lack of accountability. The situation is ironic. While monthly statutory receipts from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee to the 36 states are increasing, poverty is also expanding among Nigerians. As the statutory institutions (especially the federal and state […]
Election in the claws of religious leaders
It is a pattern we have come to recognise whenever election is around the corner. Religious leaders step in and play a role in their diverse ways – generally controversial, mostly divisive. Some of them make predictions regarding who will win; it’s within their right more so as religious leaders are believed to have more […]
Does Nigeria really have a voter apathy problem?
Months ago, when the Independent National Electoral Commission announced its voter register listed a whopping 93.4 million potential voters, it was an exciting promise of how the elections would go. At the end of the day, the presidential election—which typically attracts more voters—ended up with an underwhelming figure. With all the raucous noise that the […]
What is Nigeria doing about methane emissions?
Methane is an odourless, colourless, flammable gas. It is used primarily as fuel to make heat and light; and also used to manufacture organic chemicals. It can be formed by the decay of natural materials and is common in landfills, marshes, septic systems and sewers. For easy understanding, methane is that warm gas that comes […]
Naira redesign: Buhari, Emefiele should apologise to Nigerians!
On Monday, Nigeria’s presidency released another of those unhelpful press statements. The statement, which Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, signed, negates the objectives of public communication in two ways. This made it a counterproductive initiative, at the end. Mr Shehu’s objective was to establish the President, Major General Muhammadu […]
Non governmental initiatives in mental health advocacy
Africa was a beautiful, highly organised, and well-administered society within the purview of understanding our forefathers before the colonial masters came. We had the equivalent paraphernalia of the western model of administration with inbuilt mechanisms for order, security, education, parenting, matrimony, justice and social welfare. Despite the elitist rulership culture, there was a complementary cultural […]
The Igbo question in Lagos
The provocative claim by some Nigerians, of Igbo extraction, that Lagos is a no-man’s land riles the Yoruba, who are the first settlers in Lagos. Some Igbo, probably in retaliation for the hostility demonstrated against them by their Yoruba compatriots, during the recently concluded presidential election, employed rather violent words in return. The Yoruba became […]