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By Dakuku Peterside Security, economy, and corruption were the most outstanding issues in the 2015 and 2019 elections. Of the triune matters, security has already placed itself as the most contemporary issue of any credible campaign in 2022-23. Increased insurgency in the days ahead will make it more relevant and urgent. Unfortunately, Nigerians did not ...
By Dakuku Peterside After a long voyage, all the political parties have concluded their special conventions and primaries, and they now have presidential flag bearers representing the parties at the polls next year. The past two weeks have been an endless season of tension, permutations, and intrigues. The drama that brought the two presidential candidates ...
By FEMI ADESINA If you are of my generation, and you have some literary inclination, you would have read the novel by James Hadley Chase, with the above title. Knock, Knock! Who’s There? It was the dream of Johnny Bianda to own a boat off the coast of Florida. And he filched money for the ...
By Dakuku Peterside In the race to brace the tape of the presidency in 2023, the most consequential decision as to who would fly the flag of the major parties is made by delegates — a new set of power brokers, thanks to section 84(8) of the amended Electoral Act. PDP delegates chose Atiku Abubakar, ...
By FEMI ADESINA I’m sure you know the song by Kizz Daniel and Tekno, which is now a rave of the moment: Let me see you dey buga o (go low-low-low) Let me see you (go low-low-low) buga won. And you see people huffing and puffing as they dance to it, with their shoulders raised ...
By Dakuku Peterside There is an epidemic of mob justice in Nigeria today, and the frequency at which they occur shocks our shared sensibilities. The ubiquitous nature of jungle justice across all parts of Nigeria leaves any discerning mind to wonder how low we are falling as a nation. Every week, we are served on ...
By Femi Adesina Date was Friday, May 13, 2022, time 10a.m., and venue was the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa. The event was valedictory session for appointees leaving the cabinet to pursue political ambitions at different levels. Some were aspiring to be President, others Governors, and others Senators. It was solemn and sombre. Yes, ...
By Dakuku Peterside Nigeria is at a tipping point regarding security, human capacity development and economic growth. However, the biggest challenge we face as a country is not about the challenges of today but a bleak future staring Africa’s biggest economy and the most populous Black nation in the face. Looking beyond the 2023 general ...
By Femi Adesina For the second time in the life of this administration, President Muhammadu Buhari visited Ebonyi State last week, commissioned landmark projects, and equally passed the night. Rare, very rare on visits to States. The President has 36 Governors to relate with, and possibly contend with. Political party would not matter, as he ...
By FEMI ADESINA The Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria have a saying, when a child rejects instructions at home, it is from outside that such child is trained. And that was exactly what happened on Tuesday and Wednesday, this week, when United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres visited Nigeria as part of a three nations African ...
By Dakuku Peterside It is no longer surprising that Nigerians hear or read about insecurity in various parts of the country. We have become so narcotised and insensitive to the news of insecurity that when kidnapping, bombing or attacks on villagers by bandits, terrorists, or other non-state actors happen, unless people were killed, maimed, or ...
Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has obtained the required regulatory approvals to acquire 71.69 per cent stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFMP), formerly a portfolio company of Honeywell Group. The company made this known in a statement by its Corporate Communications Officer, Mrs Modupe Thani, on Saturday. The company also acquired a 5.06 ...
By Dakuku Peterside. The people are the bedrock of democracy. The supremacy of the people and the democratic institutions over and above individuals, no matter how well placed or wealthy, is at the core of democratic principles. Behind this democratic collectivism lies the individual’s inalienable rights and privileges that assume equality of all before the ...
By FEMI ADESINA Last week on this platform, focus was on the fact that adversaries of the Muhammadu Buhari administration were hiding behind the smokescreen of insecurity to vent their spleen. We stressed that security was everything, and noted that while robustly confronting the monster of insecurity, President Buhari was equally taking giant strides on ...
By Dakuku Peterside There is some optimism, founded or unfounded, that Nigeria will be witnessing credible elections in 2023. This air of optimism is hinged on many factors, including the recently signed electoral act amendment bill with clauses that will ensure that votes count and electronic transmission of results. Even though this amendment was not ...
By FEMI ADESINA Security is everything, nobody can dispute that. You have to be alive to enjoy every other thing government is providing; roads, rail, bridges, airports, food security, in fact, everything. That is why whenever you hear President Muhammadu Buhari talk of the priorities of his administration for the country, he starts with security, ...
By Dakuku Peterside Democracy thrives with the rule of law. The fundamental principle is that the law is always supreme and must be the guiding spirit of all actions in public life. Those who fail to abide by the letter and spirit of the law get punished. If a law is found wanting or repressive, ...
By Dakuku Peterside Each passing day, terrorists and bandits are getting bolder and more strategic in their attacks in Nigeria. Nigerians are so used to the terror that it takes a terrorist’s act of great intensity and maximum impact to get our attention. Recent events mark a watershed in terrorists’ activities in Nigeria. Terrorists invaded ...
By Femi Adesina Haters of God and humanity struck on Monday, bombing the Abuja-Kaduna train. They then proceeded to open fire on passengers of the immobilised coaches. It was premeditated murder from the very bottom of hell. See the toll of the carnage. Promising lives, cut short. Destinies terminated. Hopes and plans, ruptured. People who ...
By Dakuku Peterside Leadership can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime, but this skill and attribute crucial in moving an organisation or nation forward is in short supply in Nigeria. Whenever we spot good leaders, it behoves us to find out why they got it right and use these to critically evaluate where we missed our way. ...
By FEMI ADESINA Have you ever met a religious bigot before? Pray that you don’t. It’s not an interesting experience, irrespective of the faith the bigot professes. A bigot is obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, and is prejudiced against or antagonistic towards a person or people who don’t share what he believes. ...
By Dakuku Peterside Within the last three weeks, three significant events happened. First, during the constitution amendment, the National Assembly rejected five gender bills, and as expected, our womenfolk were enraged. The world celebrated women’s day, and this year the campaign theme was “Breaking the Bias”. Nigerian women from all backgrounds and social strata mobilised in their ...
By FEMI ADESINA A story broke last week that you would think would be everywhere, topic of discussion on both traditional and new media. But not a murmur, nor a whisper. In fact, mum was the word in many quarters. What was the story? The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an international and independent, ...
By Dakuku Peterside Last week this column focused on the legacy of elected political office holders as we wind up a political era and transit to a new one. This week, we will focus on political appointees. After nearly three and seven years respectively of service to the nation, it is time to reflect on ...
By FEMI ADESINA It’s obviously not the easiest of times in our country currently, what with severe fuel scarcity exacerbating the other existential challenges we have been coping with. In some areas, there’s no fuel, no electricity, thus translating to severe energy crisis. Yet some other people have children, wards, dependents, relations in Ukraine, currently ...
