Category: Features

Opinion: 5 Reasons Why President Trump won’t Support Okonjo-Iweala as Next WTO Director General – Blessing Mene

31Oct

By adminNo Comments

Africa, China, Economy, Features, Finance, Nigeria, Trade, United States of America, Women Empowerment

Opinion: 5 Reasons Why President Trump won’t Support Okonjo-Iweala as Next WTO Director General – Blessing Mene

This is an opinion article by Blessing Mene. People who want Okonjo-Iweala to become the next WTO Director-General mostly are excited about the prospect of the first female & African to lead the WTO. But President Trump doesn't think that way, here are five secret reasons why President Trump won't support Okonjo-Iweala: 1. He thinks from the perspective of Nationalism and his biggest interest is to have a WTO leader who will stand up to China and other countries leveraging loopholes in the WTO to supposedly "take advantage" of America. Look at how Trump is reshaping to the US Supreme Court and Federal Courts. 2. President Trump's a radical conservative who is currently looking to end the influence of liberals and globalism. That's why he got elected in the first place. He doesn'...

Tinubu’s Last-minute Video, Wike’s Sagacity and Other Reasons Obaseki Won Ize-Iyamu

21Sep

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Features, News, Nigeria

Tinubu’s Last-minute Video, Wike’s Sagacity and Other Reasons Obaseki Won Ize-Iyamu

When Governor Godwin Obaseki decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on June 19, 2020, many political analysts cheered him for resisting the attempt by his former party to frustrate his political ambition. It was a tough call for him having gone through the hassles of the then prearranged screening exercise that saw him lose to his opponent in the just concluded election, Osagie Ize Iyamu. Governor Obaseki had raised an alarm prior to the screening that there were attempts by the hierarchy of the APC to disqualify him from the primaries to favor a candidate handpicked by the then national chairman of the APC. Although there were efforts to resolve the crisis between Governor Obaseki and Comrade Adams Oshiomole, both men decided ...

NDDC-gate: Another Gory Exposure of An Ailing Nation

21Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Features, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

NDDC-gate: Another Gory Exposure of An Ailing Nation

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was developed by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in pursuant of a concerted effort at genuinely developing the Niger Delta region which is blessed with natural resources. Nigeria has built its revenue generation around the income generated from crude oil such that sectors like agriculture have been sacrificed on the altar of oil. During the administration of former President Obasanjo, agitation heightened in the Niger Delta due to what they perceived as neglect of the region in spite of its contribution to the treasury of the nation. Youths in the area rose in arms destroying pipelines and vandalizing oil installations to attract the attention to the people of the region who were facing underdevelopment and threat to health due to oil s...

CBN’s Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19 – Fraud or Incompetence?

22Jun

By adminNo Comments

Corruption, Covid-19, Economy, Features, Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN’s Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19 – Fraud or Incompetence?

When the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) announced that it was going to be making about N50 billion available as loans to businesses in what it called the "Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19", a lot of business owners saw it as a lifeline with which to revive their failed or failing businesses. It's no longer news that most businesses were hard hit by the lock down instituted by different governments as a result of the global pandemic. When the program was rolled out, it was introduced by Nirsal Micro Finance Bank, the bank that handles most of CBN's public loan programs, as "a stimulus package to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the Covid-19 pandemic." Month's after this program supposedly kicked off, we are wondering how many Niger...

Now that Obaseki Has Chosen to Stand and be Counted…

18Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Features, News, Nigeria

Now that Obaseki Has Chosen to Stand and be Counted…

Now that the characters to be played by the actors are known, the stage is set and the audience is cheering and chanting, what level of spectacle should the audience expect? The angel has fallen, the master has installed a new arch-angel, the fallen angel seeks to form a new kingdom rather than bow to his master. Edo state has emerged the scene of one of the most anticipated political actions as Nigerians look forward to the outcome of battle of gladiators. Incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki had become a political orphan after his disqualification by the All Progressive Congress (APC). Since the constitution of Nigeria does not yet permit for independent candidates for elections, Obaseki needed a political party which he would fly their flag. In 2018 after Akinwunmi Ambode had bee...

Leadership in Africa: Patriotism or Greed?

13Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, Features, News

Leadership in Africa: Patriotism or Greed?

Africa is home to some of the longest-serving national leaders in the world. Prior to the Arab Spring in 2011, Africa had about 8 Presidents among the list of top ten longest-serving national leaders in the world. It is however not surprising that up till this moment the continent parades the longest serving President in the world - Paul Biya of Cameroon. He has been in power since November of 1982. Teodoro Obiang is currently the President of Equatorial Guinea, a country in West Africa. He has also been in power since 1982 and currently has his son as one of the Vice Presidents. There is also Denis Sassou Nguesso who has been in power in the Democratic Republic of Congo since he was elected in 1997. He had previously served as the President of the country from 1979 to 1992. Returnin...

Opinion: Nigerian Values – Food For Thought

14Apr

By Ndidi UwechueNo Comments

Economy, Features, Nigeria

Opinion: Nigerian Values – Food For Thought

14th April 2020 Life seems to be much about FOOD in Nigeria. There is regular talk about how to get food for oneself or for the children. People worry about not getting “three square meals” a day. Nigerians talk about the “national cake”. Young women look for a man to marry who can put food on the table. There is a great sense of satisfaction when food has been obtained or eaten. A good day is a day when food has been eaten. Taking it further, politicians use food to either bribe people for votes, or to keep aggrieved citizens quiet. “Just give them food and it will all be ok”. Moreover, when a group is agitating for some kind of civil or human rights, we hear things said such as, “They must be hungry”. The rights or issues being addressed are disregarded, sadly, even by th...

Africa’s Corruption – A Case Of Warped Europhilia

26Jan

By Ndidi UwechueNo Comments

Africa, Corruption, Features, News

Africa’s Corruption – A Case Of Warped Europhilia

26th January 2020 We need an answer to give African children and young people when they ask us, “Why is there so much stealing going on?” and “Why do our civil servants and politicians keep on looting public resources?” They deserve to be answered not only because they are going to have to suffer the consequences of living with the savagery of such high levels of corruption, but their generation could also be the one that will put up a good fight against it. So our children and young people need to know exactly what they are going to have to deal with. To know the reason for the stealing, just “follow the money”. This is an expression that means that to expose illicit wealth or unjust enrichment, trail the money. So again then, why is Africa’s public money not being used fo...

10Oct

By Ndidi Uwechue1 Comment

Africa, Corruption, Features, Nigeria

The Idiot Class of Nigeria

10th October 2019 We can look around us at the type of society that different nations have created for themselves and come up with a general evaluation of the thinking of either the majority of the citizens there, or at least of the "critical mass", those whose thinking style has captured the nation. For example in a nation where government is sincerely concerned about citizen welfare and poverty reduction, where the weak are considered and catered for, where development is visible, and where things work pretty much as they should - you can call that an intelligent society. These are nations whose citizens value their citizenship, who take active interest in maintaining their way of life, and whose national passport is held in global esteem. Then you have those other countries where...