(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 15 November, 2021) In a very recent interview with The New Yorker, an American news magazine, Professor Wole Soyinka was asked to name his favourite song of Fela. He had no problem quickly declaring that “My favorite is ‘Zombie.’” And what was his reason? He answered: “That song,…
The Ikoyi High-Rise Rubble
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 8 November, 2021) The Ikoyi skyscraper tragedy has more than its 21 fatal floors. It is like wood falling on wood; and more wood falling on wood; a tangled narrative woven by fate and circumstances. The building came down in style: a very huge structure collapsing on itself…
Adamu Adamu Is A Humane Leader
From Ibrahim Biu Last Wednesday, Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education visited the human right Radio in Abuja also known as “Berekete”Radio in connection with an important issue related to students. This is the first time that a minister of cabinet rank, and his top officials, has carried out such a visit to such…
Anambra State In Nigerian Politics
From Chuks Iloegbunam Anambra is one of Nigeria’s 36 states. In size, it is the second smallest after Lagos, measuring only 4,844 km2. Lagos State is 3,577 km2. But Kaduna, Kano, Kogi States are 46,053 km2 , 20,131 km2 and 29,833 km2 respectively. Despite its tininess, however, Anambra’s motto of Light Of The Nation is…
Jalumi War: Remembrance and Lessons
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 1 November, 2021) Today, November 1, 2021, is the 143rd anniversary of the Jalumi War. Some historians call it the Battle of Ikirun but Jalumi (meaning: plunge into river) is the more popular name for the one-day war that commenced at dawn on Friday, November 1, 1878 and…
Gunmen at Oyo Prison
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 25 October, 2021) I read Camara Laye’s ‘A Dream of Africa’ in secondary school. I still see the sky-high gate of his walled Africa; the murderous giants and guards; the cowering captives, terrorized and traumatized in their condemned prisoners’ cells. I remember the homicidal, militant ‘nationalists’ and the…
A Critique of Hakeem Baba-Ahmed’s ‘Rejoinder’
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 11 October, 2021) Abdulrazak Gurnah, the Tanzanian who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last week has a very interesting definition of honour. He says it means “respect yourself (so that) others will come to respect you.” That is from his ‘Paradise’ – a ‘narrative reversal’ of Joseph…
Igbo, Akunyili and Mailafia
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 4 October, 2021) Igboland is the new home of Hades, lord of death and king of the underworld. The land writhes in pains as rough men roast it for supper. Vultures have descended on its forests; hawks feed on its cities. Every dove there is in fearful flight.…
2023: For Hakeem Baba-Ahmed
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 27 September, 2021) Alhaji Baba Ahmed, a Mauritanian cow seller, plied his trade from his country to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and to Dahomey (now Benin Republic). Business was very good but at a point, his customers in Dahomey, with impunity, refused to pay for his cows.…
Debts, VAT and States’ Gold Mines
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 20 September, 2021) The National Assembly last Tuesday received a presidential request for yet fresh foreign loans. This time, it is $4billion and €710million (N2 Trillion) to finance ‘critical projects’ in the 2021 budget. Our lawmakers will approve the loan request without asking any question. It is not…
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