Punch

Two individuals, who are probably unknown to each other, but with more than passing interest, called after reading this column last week on the audacious call by some for a coup d’état and the lesser evil of Interim Government. Each caller thought the intervention should have leaned towards his “The right” position.  Asked why he…

Nigerians, who are old enough, would remember a foolhardy “Daniel,” who entered into the lion’s den at the Zoological Garden of the University of Ibadan in the late 1980s. He ended up as lunch for the lion that was minding its business in its lair. Those who went to the Ministry of Defence, to ask…

Those (mostly ex-military officers) who insist that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable also contributed to making Nigeria difficult to live in. Practically all military coups in Nigeria were staged largely by members of the same ethnic group, safe for few “outsiders.” The January 1966 coup was carried out mainly by Igbo officers; the countercoup of…

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,…

Segun Oyegbami’s personality, and the profound effect of his message came strong in the phone call he made after reading this column’s call to the Federal Government, and its relevant personnel and agencies, to “Please end this fuel crisis” about two weeks ago. If you read Oyegbami’s book, “Reversing The Rot in Nigeria,” an extremely…

Everyone appreciates that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has prioritised traffic management in Lagos State. He extended the working hours, and doubled the allowances, of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency personnel. He commenced the rehabilitation of the over-clogged Mile 2-Tin Can Island segment of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway that services the Apapa Port, as he got moral support…

As an alumnus, I am concerned about the recent rumblings in the University of Lagos, whose Governing Council set up a committee led by a chemistry lecturer at Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Dr. Saminu Dagari, to audit the finances of the university. The committee reported that there was a “continuous, brazen, manifest and gross…

For the low, laughable, calibre of many of those who voted, were voted for, or will be voted for in future Nigerian elections, Dr. Kayode Esuola of the Institute of Diaspora Studies of the University of Lagos offered two explanations. First, he argues, the more articulate and educated middle class do not vote, or habitually…

History records the eastward migrations, through the Sahel to most of West Africa and parts of Central Africa. Sunni Ali, who made flourishing Gao into his capital city, extended the epic Songhai Empire eastwards – from Mali to most of Northwestern Nigeria. From religious proselytising of pre-colonial Hausa kingdoms, aliens from West Africa also interfered…

Finally, the lobby that wanted President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement defeated critics, like this writer. Nigeria became the 54th signatory, leaving Eritrea as the only holdout. Those who pushed the argument that globalisation is the “New World,” quite forgot that Brexit, Britain’s planned exit from the European Union,…