Thoughts On The Buhari Vs AIT Brouhaha

Opinion Pieces, Stories6 Comments

There has been an on going debate since the news broke that the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari barred the reporters of African Independent Television (AIT), a privately owned tv station from covering his activities citing security concerns over his family and ethical issues as reasons for the decision. Nigerians are divided over the expedience of this decision, with a section of the populace insisting that it doesn’t bode well for our democracy especially in the light of the fear among certain quarters that General Buhari who was a former military dictator cannot totally shed his military toga and embrace the ideals of democracy altogether. With a history of fiercely clamping down on the media and free speech through the enactment of the Decree 4 which forbade any journalist from reporting any information considered embarrassing to any government official during his first stint at the helm of affairs, some people are justifiably worried by the news of Buhari barring AIT.

Xenophobic South Africa: Why Nigeria Needs To be Fixed Fast!

Opinion Pieces, Stories5 Comments

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithi stoked the embers of discord and violence when he called for the deportation of foreign nationals living in South Africa, saying that it was unacceptable that locals were being made to compete with people from other countries for the few economic opportunities available. What’s with Kings and unguarded utterances in recent times? In the meantime, what started as a form of growing discontent and grumblings among the people living in the poor regions of South Africa has quickly escalated into a full blown massacre of other black Africans no thanks to the King’s statement.

How To Be A Lagos Big Girl

Satire, Stories27 Comments

Away from all things too serious, I am sharing an extra post this week. I will be writing on something that has always fascinated me…”The Lagos Big Girl Tag.” The city of Lagos is regarded as a land of opportunities where people come in search of the golden fleece that is often talked about. Everyone wants to be seen as “doing well” or “making it.” Now, the ways of achieving that aim differ from person to person. Today, I will be attempting to assist the ladies who aspire to be tagged “Lagos Big Girls.” Feel free to scratch Lagos and insert the name of your city of residence.

The Chibok Girls: One Year After

Opinion Pieces, Stories12 Comments

    “Chibok girls saga remains an open sore on the conscience of our nation” – Wole Soyinka

It’s my 50th blog post, and I am dedicating it to the missing Chibok girls. One whole year has passed since an entire set of teenage girls were forcibly taken from their school, the Government Secondary School in Chibok town, Borno State, Nigeria. 365 whooping days! Over 200 girls whose only crime was an ambition to make something of their lives by getting a western education were abducted from their dormitory on the 14th of April, 2014 by the dreaded Boko Haram sect. The Islamist militants have held the north eastern part of the country, and by extension the whole of Nigeria by the jugular for the past six years! However, the case of the kidnapped Chibok girls was the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back. Boko Haram hit our last nerve. It was and still is a bad dream…a terrible nightmare which has unfortunately dragged on for far too long.

Epic Battle For The Soul Of Lagos

Politics/Governance6 Comments

The presidential elections have come and gone, with many heaving a huge sigh relief as a result of a potential unrest being averted by the timely concession of defeat by President Goodluck Jonathan. But it is not yet uhuru. The gubernatorial elections in majority of the states of the federation comes up this Saturday. Lagos in particular is on the radar, and understandably so because it is the commercial nerve center of Nigeria, it is the hub which generates a substantial proportion of the revenue of the country. Lagos being the most populous city in Nigeria, the second fastest-growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest- growing city in the world, with a population of about 20 million people has earned all the attention it receives as the microcosm of Nigeria, and so when Lagos sneezes, the rest of the country catches the flu!

Heroes, Villains And The Triumph Of Democracy In NIgeria

Politics/Governance5 Comments

         When God says it’s time…it is time! Change is here – Ololade Ajekigbe

I type this with so much excitement and joy in my heart. History has been made in Nigeria. We are going into the history books for all the right reasons! For the first time in the history of our dear nation, an opposition candidate defeated a sitting president through the ballot box! Whoever thought that day would come, and soon too! Since, Nigerians cast their votes on Saturday, the country has been on the edge as people earnestly waited with bated breaths to hear the outcome of the polls which saw an unprecedented number of people who were hitherto nonchalant about voting in previous elections turn out en-masse to vote for their preferred candidate. Nigerians had had enough! They were ready to take their destiny into their own hands by not only being patient enough to cast their votes despite the hitches with card readers and other challenges, but also waiting for their votes to be counted in order not to be shortchanged in any way.