By Segun Adeniyi Two important books that speak to the most brutal military era in Nigeria’s history will be publicly presented in Abuja in the coming weeks. The first, on 18 November, is ‘Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs’. A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army with a doctorate degree in law, Ralph Sixtus Babatunde (RSB) Bello-Fadile was a principal actor of the 1995 “phantom coup” against the late General Sani Abacha. He was arrested, tried and sentenced to death in the tragic saga that implicated dozens of prominent Nigerians, including…
Read MoreCategory: GUEST WRITER
Mayors Of Change: Governor Otti’s Innovative Approach To Local Governance
Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D. Governor Alex Chioma Otti OFR, recently hosted the out-gone Mayors and current Mayors and their Deputies in a dinner, where he announced plans to integrate high-performing former Mayors into his government. This move underscores Governor Otti’s commitment to merit-based leadership and continuity in grassroots development. At the event, he praised the achievements of the immediate past Mayors, highlighting their excellent performance in their various Local Government Areas. Since assuming office, Governor Otti has demonstrated his dedication to rebuilding and repositioning Abia State. His administration has initiated various…
Read MoreTHE RISE OF NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP: The Tinubu, Trump Examples .
By Steve OsuJi TINUBU WAS NO FLUKE AFTERALL: When a Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared president of Nigeria, a cold chill spread around the country. It was the same response a few days ago when a Donald Trump clinched the presidency of the United States of America. There was a moment of gloom across the globe. The moon could have winked to cause a momentary eclipse. If Tinubu’s was a stolen mandate; if a rogue electoral body shamelessly blamed it on “technical glitch” and a suborned judiciary cuckolded itself, what…
Read MoreTrump’s victory, true colour of democracy
By Ikechukwu Amaechi On Wednesday, November 6, Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. President, pulled off what to all intents and purposes, is an extraordinary political comeback – an exceptional feat that has catapulted him once again to the enviable position of the president-elect. On January 20, 2025, he will take another oath of office as the 47th U.S. President. When Americans went to the polls on Tuesday, November 5, to elect President Joe Biden’s successor, the odds weighed against Trump. Here is a president who was impeached twice during his…
Read MoreFOR ONCE, TINUBU MAKES A BIT OF SENSE
…Cabinet shuffle: Much motion, no movement By Steve Osuji A SPARK OF TINUBU LIGHT: Upfront: this column had long given up on President Bola Tinubu. Expresso had long determined that nothing of much value will be achieved by his administration even if he ruled for 50 years. The weekly presidency watch was disabled by the sheer ineptitude of the presidency. We found ourselves repeating same negativism arising from poor leadership; we searched in vain to find something worthy of commendation; just anything. Nothing. The Tinubu presidency kept flailing and failing.…
Read MoreFOR ONCE, TINUBU MAKES A BIT OF SENSE
…Cabinet shuffle: Much motion, no movement By Steve Osuji A SPARK OF TINUBU LIGHT: Upfront: this column had long given up on President Bola Tinubu. Expresso had long determined that nothing of much value will be achieved by his administration even if he ruled for 50 years. The weekly presidency watch was disabled by the sheer ineptitude of the presidency. We found ourselves repeating same negativism arising from poor leadership; we searched in vain to find something worthy of commendation; just anything. Nothing. The Tinubu presidency kept flailing and failing.…
Read MoreA Tale Of Two Different States In South-East Of Nigeria.
The difference between fiction and reality in Enugu State and in lmo state under the current administration. What did the current administration in lmo state do with the millions of naire that were given to the good people of lmo state by the federal government through their governor to cushion the effect of hunger and food shortages across the state. Other states in the southeast of Nigeria make good use of their fund by purchasing tractors for mechanised farming whilst the lmo state government keeps hanging handouts palliatives by so…
Read MoreIwuanyanwu: When a great leader departs in a blaze of glory
A great leader always leaves a big hole in the lives of those around them when they pass away. Considering the roles they played while still on the scene, this is obvious. Because they look up to the leader for crucial decisions affecting their collective, and because they fill in for them or hoist the flag of defence when the need arises, their lives and the lives of their people are intertwined. Just like when Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was around as a model and premier Igbo-Nigerian leader, patriot, and…
Read MoreTHE 12 RECEDIVISTS – Profiles in infamy
By Steve OsuJi A return to viledom: Dear reader, it’s actually reverse recedivism we are grappling with here. Let’s start with the basics. A recedivist is someone who suffers a relapse after a successful therapy. Especially so, a criminal who returns to his bad ways after a corrective process. But the reverse situation which is what we are concerned with here, is someone who transitions from good to bad. We speak of people renowned and illustrious as exemplars of the best societal values turning 360 degrees to become violently evil.…
Read MoreExit, Fubara, Exit.
I called Sim Fubara and Nyesom Wike ” band of thieves” early this year in one of my write ups on the political goings on in Rivers state since 2023. Since then, the velocity of the show of shame has increased in volume and size. Yes, they are band of thieves because they agreed in cahoot to share Rivers state commonwealth and patrimony amongst both of them alone without involving other stakeholders. Their illegitimate agreement has become intractable in implementation, and the duo are dancing naked in the market. However,…
Read More