“Which among the G7 countries, Russia or multilateral institutions can mediate between the two belligerent parties? None.” —Olalekan A. Babatunde Recent happenings amid the coronavirus pandemic have seen a pattern of tit-for-tat diplomatic relations between the United States and China. The latest last week were the retaliatory moves by the two ordering the closure of consulates in each other’s countries. Though the first move used to be taken by the US and immediately retaliated by...

Anyone who today persists in a cause or action despite difficult or hopeless circumstances, is called a Bitter-Ender. —Femi Adesina In the build-up to the 2015 general elections, the country was divided right down the middle. On one side were the Jonathanians, who supported the then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, and wanted him to continue in office for another term of four years. On the flip side were the Buharists (I was one, and remain...

You may ask…these two were martyrs? —Hector-Roosevelt Ukegbu Supreme Commander Major General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s first military ruler, knew well in time a coup was being plotted against him. The plot was revealed to him by at least two senior officers: Lt. Col. Philip Effiong, previously at the Ordnance Depot in Yaba before the January 1966 coup, then posted to Headquarters Staff, who had been alerted by a Yoruba officer based in Lokoja. The other...