(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 8 May, 2023) The one who hasn’t been hit by war calls himself a man (Eni ìjà ò bá níí pe ‘ra è l’ókùnrin). The word for ‘fight’ in Yoruba is ‘ija’; but ‘ija’ is much more than ‘fight’. It means battle; it is also war. If you’ve…
The President as a Role Model: A Reprise
Following the publication of my article titled “The President as a Role Model”, I had a profoundly worrisome encounter, which produced a narrative that necessitated this reprise and seemed to answer the closing question at the end of the original article thus: “What type of role model is the ruling class about to hoist on…
How Free is the Nigerian Press?
Democracy is perceived as a structure which, ordinarily, should be strongly built for those sheltered by it. Consequently, it is sustained by certain pillars, so to speak, without which it cannot stand. One of such pillars…, is the press. Others are: the legislature, the constitution, political parties, impartial judiciary, independent electoral umpire, etcetera, but this…
Towards the Bala Usman Laws
During the meeting of Secretaries to the State Governments (SSGs) in Calabar, Cross River State in 1981, a proposal to travel to the United States (US) to “study the presidential system”, which was discussed in a previous meeting, was raised for decision. Reacting to that, Dr. Bala Usman, SSG of Kaduna State, raised his hand,…
Mike Adenuga and the Ijebu spirit
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 1 May, 2023) It was almost a missed call; or, more appropriately, an ignored call because the telephone number was unusual – an eight-digit number. But, something told me: pick it, and I did. “Hello, is that Mr. Lasisi Olagunju?” “Yes, sir,” I answered, waiting for what would…
Now that PVC Has Failed Us
Ordinarily, and in the spirit of development, one would have expected the country to build on the successes recorded in the 2015 elections conducted by Professor Atahiru Jega’s INEC. a silencer each time people grumble over government’s failures or excesses. Even common people who know next to nothing on the workings of modern politics, you hear…
The Terrorists are Back
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 10 April, 2023) My mystery Hausa friend has been busy with me lately. He has been firing a series of probing (invasive) messages. Sometimes, he asks questions; other times, he comes plain and provocative. On March 28, my friend told me “Igbos and Yorubas have been Nigeria’s problem…
President as a Role Model
Role modeling is a responsibility each individual owes society for the continuance of a culture of which virtue, ethos and decorum form the foundation. A role model is an individual who is regarded by others, especially younger people, as a good example to follow; a person who is worthy of emulation. It is a social…
Nigeria and Echoes of Pieter Botha
Pieter Willem Botha (1916-2006) was a South African politician. From 1978 to 1984, he served as Prime Minister and morphed into the first executive state president from 1984 to 1989. Botha was an outspoken opponent of black majority rule and international communism. However, his administration made concessions towards political reform, whereas internal unrest saw widespread…
Encounter with a Prophet
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 3 April, 2023) Like Nigeria’s multiple-award winning poet, Professor Niyi Osundare, I am also “farmer-born, peasant-bred.” Like him, I “encountered dawn in the enchanted corridors of the forest.” A powerful pastor once came to our village with drums and flutes. It was supposed to be a one-off visit…
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