Columns culled from The Punch Newspaper website
In 1823, Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, wrought an American foreign policy that discourages countries of the Old World (in Europe) from interfering in the internal affairs of Latin American colonies in the New World (of the Americas). In 1850, the document of the policy of non-interference in American or Western Hemisphere countries by…
A friend and high school classmate, Lance Bowale, chided public commentators, especially of African descent who only justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or sympathise with Ukraine but overlooked racist and bigotry discriminations against Africans (and Muslims) in the war-zone. After getting an apology for the omission, Lance graciously remarked, “We are all guilty.” Sympathisers of…
Evidence of Nigerians’ habit of over-indulging their governments is that 70 per cent of annual budgets go to servicing Big Government, paying for the lavish lifestyles of idle public servants, with 30 per cent for infrastructure or physical assets that can attract future revenues. That is why Nigerian civil servants reduce their age when signing…
A friend, an attorney, who may prefer to be anonymous, recently expressed his reservation, albeit with a hint of regret, about a call made by this column, a few weeks ago, that restructuring of the Nigerian polity should be in the manifesto of presidential aspirants who may transform into presidential candidates in 2023. The political…
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the multiple charges and fees being imposed on candidates of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. At the plenary on Wednesday, the House mandated its Committee on Basic Education to “investigate the multiple processing and/or administrative fees imposed by JAMB and its accredited agents on JAMB candidates.” The committee…
Gbajue’ is a Yoruba slang, a metaphor, for con artistry, a criminal act that has now transformed from one-on-one conning of victims by criminal smart alecs, who make outlandish offers within Nigeria, to “yahoo yahoo,” the same business, but carried out online and across continents by young lads operating with laptops and ample data feeds. Among the most…
In 2016, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had cause to apologise for the mix up in sacking 13 university Vice-Chancellors and their councils. His Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who complained that some people prevented him access to the president, (who is still) Petroleum Resources Minister, also apologised for…
Immediately after Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State was sworn-in and after he read his maiden speech, the Master of Ceremony pronounced him a philosopher-king that combined political skills with deep philosophical knowledge. Italian Cesare Borgia, a Cardinal, was the skilled statesman that inspired “The Prince,” Nicollo Machiavelli’s treatise on the acquisition and use of political power….
You could read the pain and disappointment on the face of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he gave a curt, “I have no son old enough to declare (for President),” in response to a cheeky question from a journalist after his meeting with some governors of the ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress. Though…
Section 22 of Nigeria’s Constitution provides that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the Fundamental Objectives contained in (Chapter II of Nigeria’s Constitution) and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.” This suggests that the Constitution recognises the…