Our boss, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, my family and closest friends wouldn’t like what I am about to publicly reveal. I deeply apologise. Last week, I had a surgery at Max Multi Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, India. The surgery, which doctors categorised as a ‘high risk’ was around my chest wall and lungs. It lasted some hours. It was very successful. Alhamdulillah! Some readers, especially close friends, may now have mixed feelings: happy that the surgery went well, but disappointed that I kept them in the dark. I am sorry. If you (reading this) also feel that way, you…
Author: Editor
I am pained to resume this piece on a sad note. “My darling mother, Eunice O. Adesina passed away today at the age of 92. I am blessed you were my mother. You gave birth to me, nursed me, cared for me, and brought me up. I am forever grateful Mum. So long sweet Mum, greet Dad and sleep well. I love you. Your loving baby, Akins”. This was the announcement made by Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina to the world via his Twitter handle, which indicates his brevity and bravery in handling emergencies. Blessed with famous children including the worthy ambassador…
By Sumaila Ogbaje Nigeria has continued to contend with a number of internal security challenges ranging from insurgency and terrorism in the North East, banditry and kidnapping in North West and North Central, oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, and separatists agitation in South East and South West. In spite of these security challenges, Nigeria has recorded a remarkable improvement in security administration in 2022. The Armed Forces of Nigeria has remained steadfast in restringing peace and security across the country and had deployed troops across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to tackle all…
By Sven Hoppe His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church passed away at the age of 95. Benedict retired from his role as Bishop of Rome in February 2013, saying he was unable to fulfill the duties of his office because of a “lack of strength of mind and body” due to his advanced age. He had served in the role for eight years and was succeeded by Pope Francis I, the current pontiff. Benedict was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in the Bavarian town of Marktl, in southeastern Germany.…
By the time you are reading this, I will hopefully be heading for Bo, the second capital city of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱- my maternal home District! The year 2022 is coming to an end and it has been a tremendously important one for me. Since January, I joined the District executive members, including youth, students and women of our party – the National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP) the CUT ACROSS Movement in commemorating 20 years of peace after war in Sierra Leone, targeting different stakeholders, in particular, the victims of war, disadvantaged youth, students and women, and representatives of…
My Fellow Countrymen and Women. I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year. First, I would like to thank and honour the Almighty who saw us through the year 2022 and has given us the opportunity to see another year. Each New Year is an opportunity to reflect on the past year, reposition, and move forward with the New. As we celebrate the opportunity to be alive in this year 2023, we must also acknowledge the passing away of our brothers and sisters who didn’t make it into this new year. May their souls rest in…
‘Nearly all men can stand adversity. If you want to test a man’s character, give him power.’ – Abraham Lincoln President Muhammadu Buhari says, for the umpteenth time, that he cannot wait for the end of his term. He says he plans to live as far away from Abuja as he can when he serves his two terms out. Recently, he was specific in preferring Daura, his hometown, where he will live in peace without being troubled by anyone. In recent days, he had lamented that he has not been as appreciated as he should have been, in spite of doing…
Civics and the Words and Deeds of a Nigerian Politician was the title of my column of 18th March 2022. The theme was the state of wisdom in Nigeria is that you believe the words of a politician at your own peril. I circulated one of the posts going around on WhatsApp about specific lies some politicians allegedly told and did exactly the opposite of what the swore not to do. I have not fact checked the quotations and I should be forgiven if they are all lies. I will never go back to the PDP. PDP is beyond redemption!…
By Dr. Dahiru Maishanu Mallam Saidu Umar, Ubandoman Sokoto, the Sokoto State PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for the 2023 elections has departed from the norm. He has broken away from his usual, mild approach. He has broken his usual lines. Mallam Ubandoma, at the PDP’S flag-off for the Sokoto State Governorship Campaign at Dange Shuni local government did the unthinkable. He broke the ice. We were left Flabbergasted! He took the bull by its horns and damned the consequences. Un characteristically, Saidu Umar, at the flag-off, called the bluff-off his infantile opponents and braved the odds. As always, only my ardent…
By Dr. Dahiru Maishanu I have not been this close to him, despite our many decades of growing up in the same local area of Sokoto, and despite family ties. I never underestimated him though, having known his family background and knowing he is well schooled to the level of being an elite Harvard graduate and a former Minister of the Federal Republic, among others. Yusuf Suleiman stroke me yesterday and cleared any doubts that Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal indeed, remained a strategic thinker by choosing him to be the Director General of the Sokoto State PDP Campaign Director General.…