Category: Opinion - Page 4 - African News Today

Ohanaeze, Afenifere Chide Daura Over Comment on 2023 Presidency

30Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

African Development, Economy, Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Ohanaeze, Afenifere Chide Daura Over Comment on 2023 Presidency

The apex Igbo and Yoruba socio-political groups in Nigeria on Wednesday chided Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew over his remark on the zoning of presidency in 2023. The groups – Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere in different interviews on Wednesday said Buhari was a beneficiary of zoning in 2015 when he emerged the country’s president. They said Buhari was not the most qualified for the position if he were to be judged based on merit as Daura posited, given his handling of the country’s affairs. In line with Daura’s submission, pan-northern socio-political organistion, the Arewa Consultative Forum, said the country’s constitution does not recognize zoning. Daura in an interview with Hausa Service of the BBC, on Tuesday said the presidency had rotated thrice in Nige...

My Self Life – And The 1999 Nigeria Constitution

27Jul

By Ndidi UwechueNo Comments

Africa, Human Rights, Justice, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

My Self Life – And The 1999 Nigeria Constitution

When there is a social problem, or a problem that affects the community, this is how in general a Nigerian thinks: “I can see the problem. But it does not affect me at all. So what does it concern me?... I can see the problem. But I have a way to bypass it for myself. So I will let it be…. I can see the problem. But I have the means to escape its effects. I eat well. My children are safe. Let the hungry and the poor who suffer it, stop it, not me….” These are the evident values of socially accepted Nigerian Culture, for SELF is writ large in the heart of many Nigerians. Thus, “Nigerian Culture” revolves around “What’s in it for ME?” Even though many live by the Nigerian Culture, and by their behaviour have defined it for what it is, and for the whole world to see, a precious f...

Opinion: What do these Biafrans Really Want? by Pomonua

21Jul

By Guest ContributorNo Comments

Biafra, News, Nigeria

Opinion: What do these Biafrans Really Want? by Pomonua

I asked this question because the noise from their agitation is really taking a nuisance pitch and dimension. Let us set the records straight, the British continues to have an interest in the affairs of Nigeria and its governance. The country is a major source of earnings for them. When they departed upon independence, they entrusted its affairs in the hands of those they could trust; those who will allow them unfettered access to those things that fueled their economy. That is how the Fulani came to be in power. Biafra knows that Britain is the unseen hand working behind the scene to frustrate its actualization, even though the face of the Fulani is what you see. If in doubt, watch this video of the confession by Harold Smith, one of the principal participant during that episode. ...

Nigeria – Ethics Of Supporting A Sham 1999 Constitution

9Jul

By Ndidi UwechueNo Comments

Justice, News, Nigeria

Nigeria – Ethics Of Supporting A Sham 1999 Constitution

Nigeria has actually collapsed. I cannot pinpoint the exact date, but when I consider the filth, decay and squalor everywhere, the depth of social pathologies, and horrifyingly, the genocide against ethnic nationalities, together with unstopped herdsmen and Boko Haram-ISIS terrorism, I cannot truthfully call Nigeria a country. It is simply a territory, a piece of land covering an area of 923,768 sq km in western Africa. A country would be a place where people can live in an environment of peace, intelligence, dignity, and civility, not be so debased as to flounder around in lack, having only a stunted, miserable, frightening and violent existence. With the passage of time, Nigeria the self-proclaimed “giant of Africa” seems unable to be anything other than delinquent and dysfunctiona...

An Open Letter to Jagaban by Femi Fani-Kayode

29Jun

By adminNo Comments

Lagos News, News, Nigeria

An Open Letter to Jagaban by Femi Fani-Kayode

"Even the obstacles on my way, I predict them before those that will bring them will start to think about them. I plan for betrayal, I plan for backstabbing, I also plan for reunion & forgiveness long before they happen.I expect nothing, I expect anything, I expect everything"- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. My dearest Jagaban, You know very well that I have always liked and respected you. You will also recall that a few years ago I warned you that everything that is being done to you today would eventually be done to you given the choices you made at the time. I bear you no malice or ill-will but in view of what is happening in your political party and given the fact that your good friend, co-conspirator and collaborator, President Muhammadu Buhari, has finally thrown you under t...

Opinion: Sudan’s Film Industry – A Roadmap to Development by Ricardo Preve

27Jun

By Guest Contributor1 Comment

Africa, Movies and Films, Sudan

Opinion: Sudan’s Film Industry – A Roadmap to Development by Ricardo Preve

The Sudanese film industry was experiencing a revival after the end of the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. During Bashir’s 30-year tenure, personal freedoms in general, and artistic creativity in particular, were severely restricted. With the fall of the regime, Sudanese film producers saw an opportunity to make up for lost time, as was evident during the Sudan Independent Film Festival which took place in Khartoum in January of this year, and which I was privileged to attend. Organized by the Sudan Film Factory, an eclectic group of Sudanese artists who gather at a home in Sudan’s capital, reminiscent of the Bauhaus movement of Germany’s 1920s, the festival featured recent works by Sudanese film makers that challenged long-established norms about the depiction of political a...

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...

Opinion: Government of the Oligarchs, by their Minions, for the Oligarchs by Babatunde Gbadamosi

9Mar

By adminNo Comments

Lagos News, Nigeria

Opinion: Government of the Oligarchs, by their Minions, for the Oligarchs by Babatunde Gbadamosi

Since May 29, 2019, myself and millions of other concerned Lagosians have been urging Governor Jide Sanwoolu to fix the frankly disgusting roads in Lagos. He responded by initiating a shambolic exercise he quaintly calls "palliative measures", which essentially consist in a scattering of rough granite stones on damaged portions of road, compacting same and leaving for the next rains to wash away. When we criticised these obviously ineffectual and hugely expensive "palliative measures", his explanation was that asphalt could not be laid during the rainy season. As they kept parroting this line, Julius Berger continued laying asphalt on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Strangely, the rain did not stop them. The dry season came, and the "asphaltimg" began. Sadly, it was another cruel joke, a...

Opinion: The North and Vanity of Power by Charles Ogbu

16Feb

By adminNo Comments

Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Opinion: The North and Vanity of Power by Charles Ogbu

Northern Nigeria is a tragic paradox. A walking contradiction, I mean. For over 40 years, the North has ruled Nigeria and controlled every aspect of her national life. The current President of Nigeria is from the North and virtually every security agencies in Nigeria including the paramilitary ones are in the hands of Northerners. Yet, almost half of the North is firmly in the hands of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements operating under different names. Both our Army Chief, Defence minister and even the Commander-In-Chief now need to be escorted by almost the entire Nigerian armed forces before they visit their home towns all in the North. As I type, some of the bodies of dozenS of people butchered by bandits Friday evening in President Buhari's own home state of Katsina are...

Opinion: An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari – Fani-Kayode

15Feb

By adminNo Comments

Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Opinion: An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari – Fani-Kayode

Mr. President, many believe that you cannot read and those that believe that you can claim that you cannot go beyond three lines. They say outside of that you can only comprehend cartoons. I do not share either view. I know you well enough to concede that when you consider a literary submission of sufficient importance you have the presence of mind, discipline, health, intelligence and ability to read through it very slowly and very carefully weighing up every word. And that is precisely as it should be. The first open letter that I wrote to you was in December 2015 and the following serves as the second. You will forgive me because this is a long letter and I am fully aware that your attention span or ability to retain too much information in one fell swoop may not be as good as...