By John Campbell, Guest Columnist and Blogger As of today, I am retiring from the Council on Foreign Relations, where I have held the Ralph Bunche Chair for Africa Policy Studies since 2009. I am delighted that my successor is Michelle Gavin, former senior director for Africa at the National Security Council, former ambassador to Botswana, and now a senior fellow at the Council, based in New York. She has been a close professional colleague,...
By Eric G. Berman, Guest Blogger A year ago on this platform I raised a concern that the two main Boko Haram factions secured considerable lethal materiel from attacks on regional security forces. That the dynamic existed and was worth further investigation was clear; the scale and scope of the problem less so. A new report shows that the quantities of lethal materiel seized from these state stockpiles are astonishingly high, and the range of weapon systems lost is...
“The reality however is that so far, the Southeast has a better chance to cling the presidency with APC than with PDP.” –-Ebuka Onyekwelu The member representing Nnewi North constituency in Anambra state House of Assembly, Hon. Nonso Okafor has formally explained to his constituents and well-wishers the reasons he defected to the APC, from APGA. Two years ago, Nonso was elected as the APGA candidate in a very close and difficult party primary in...
The cancellation of the Japanese tennis player, Naomi Osaka, by angry spectators, followed her recent loss to Leylah Fernandez, an 18-year-old Canadian, in the tennis Olympics round held last Friday. This has awoken verbal archers against Naomi as it has been a recurring practice to attack champions in their down moments. The following YouTube comments are; examples. @capricornmagic63: ‘Now she’s talking about taking time off from the game and doesn’t know when she’ll play again....
With this development, it is now easy to predict that before the Anambra State House of Assembly resumes later this month, the APC may become the majority party in the Assembly; moving from zero to becoming the majority. This is the magic of politics. As at the last sitting of the members of Anambra State House of Assembly before proceeding to recess since last month, the Assembly has not a single member of the APC....
“We always advise couples to resolve their differences amicably. Consult faith-based institutions where they belong. Consult their family members because the union was born out of two families.” It has been reported that a 46-year-old civil servant, Patrick Markson, committed suicide by drinking a poisonous substance after murdering his wife, Hannah Markson, in her sleep with the use of a sledgehammer on Thursday, leaving behind their six children. At the location of the incident, Odede...
The incoming government has a lot of work to do in making Awka a sustainable city, fit for human residence and with every semblance of a modern city. Only a few years ago, the bulk of the Ifite community which hosts Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the greater part of Agu-Awka, part of where the Government House is situated was largely uninhabited. In fact, different parts of Agu-Awka had only just one house to an entire...
By John Campbell, Guest Columnist and Blogger In an op-ed in the Financial Times, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari highlighted the importance of development in curbing terrorism, a welcome departure from conversations focusing singularly on military might. Muhammadu Buhari has authored a thoughtful piece about Africa’s struggle against terrorism in the Financial Times, his chosen outlet an indication that his audience is international rather than domestic. He observes that with the U.S. departure from Afghanistan, Africa has become the frontline of...
Culture in Nigeria has its diversification peculiar to the different states and tribes in the country. On the 21st of August, His Majesty Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko was crowned the 21st Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III at Ode-Itsekiri kingdom in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State. Before a king’s ascension to the throne, he is expected to perform certain traditional rites. A few days ago, on Channels television, a kinsman from Warri explained the rites...
Writing ‘why’ is not as easy as asking why in some homes, schools, religious houses, communities, and so on. Children are taught to apologise to their elders when they( the children) are wrong, but they become perplexed when the elder offends them without any sense of apology, yet they do not ask why. University students get seated for a scheduled class of 2-4 pm. At 3:30 pm, they get informed by a representative about the...
