ADEKKA TV

By abiodun KOMOLAFE Ayodele Aluko, a veteran journalist and communication consultant, was recently elected as the National President of St. Patrick’s Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State. (SPACO) Alumni Association. A member of the 1975/1980 set, he took over from Dayo Mobereola, who now serves as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Under Aluko’s leadership, the SPACO Alumni Association has pledged to undertake several initiatives, including launching the SPACO Alumni Library Day, spearheading a book donation drive, securing sponsors for a multi-sports complex, and deploying a strategy to sponsor teachers across various subjects. The ultimate goal is to improve the academic performance of students and restore the glory of St. Patrick’s Grammar School within five years. Indeed, alumni associations play a vital role in national development, fostering lifelong bonds and supporting academic excellence. In response to dwindling government f...

  By Bolarinwa Kabir The Federal Government has declared Monday, March 31 and Tuesday April 1 public holidays for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior,  made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government. He congratulated Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast. Tunji-Ojo urged all Muslims to embrace the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, generosity and peace, emphasising the importance of love, forgiveness, and solidarity in building a harmonious society. In a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the Minister called on Nigerians to use this festive period to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity of the nation. He expressed hope the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr would inspire unity and cooperation across religious and ethnic lines. Tunji-Ojo also encouraged citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly, while remembering the less privileged through acts of kindnes...

  By abiodun KOMOLAFE The concepts of power, privilege and governance are complex and multifaceted. Power refers to the ability to influence others, while privilege denotes unearned advantages. Governance encompasses institutions, structures and processes that regulate these dynamics. Together, these concepts raise fundamental questions about justice, equality and resource distribution. It emphasizes the importance of considering marginalized groups’ experiences and perspectives. The main problem in Nigeria today is its political economy, which is rooted in rent-seeking and fosters a mindset that prioritizes patronage over production. The country’s politics are characterized by a patron-client relationship, where everything revolves around government handouts rather than effective governance. This has led to a situation where “politics” in Nigeria is essentially a scramble for resources in a country with severely limited opportunities for self-improvement. When French agronomist Re...

By Bolarinwa Kabir  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state. Tinubu made the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy Ngozi Odu; and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months. The president nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as a military administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the first six months. The president relied on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to make the proclamation. The section interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger, disaster or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control. A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)

  By abiodun KOMOLAFE   We are at midterm, which means that the next electoral cycle has already started. Unfortunately, governance will begin to slow down as politicking and jockeying for advantage become more pronounced, distracting from the real work of administration and the quest to achieve sustainable development. The ruling party currently holds a significant advantage, facing an ill-defined and unfocused array of interest groups lacking cohesion. Unlike parliamentary systems, presidential systems don’t truly have an ‘opposition’ concept. Instead, they offer a focused alternative platform, presenting a distinct and more positive stance than the governing party’s. It sums it all that, within the reality of a very difficult economic crisis, there is no realistic, properly-costed alternative on offer. This is a clear indication of intellectual indolence and the absence of political parties showing up our present reality that what we have are Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)...

  By Bolarinwa Kabir  The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Retd.), and four other commissioners following their failure to appear before the Assembly. The warrant was issued after the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum given to them to appear on Monday. This came after an initial 48-hour deadline, which expired last Friday. During Monday’s plenary session (today), Speaker Martin Amaewhule and the House unanimously approved the warrant, reinforcing their demand for accountability from the RSIEC officials. Earlier on Monday, Ibiemebo Evelyn Thompson, the RSIEC Commissioner in charge of Transport, Logistics, and Store, resigned, citing the recent Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the October 5, 2024, local government elections in the state. Her resignation follows that of two other commissioners, Lazberry Nnah and Professor Simeon Weli, who steppe...

By abiodun KOMOLAFE The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, stemming from her allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of office against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, reveals a deeper issue within Nigeria’s political system. This incident, among others, raises questions about Nigeria’s claim to being a republic, as it exhibits characteristics of a feudal system, where social and economic relationships are defined by patron-client attachments. In the case of the senate president, a lot has been revealed about the misogynistic nature of much of the Nigerian state. This issue has persisted for more than half a century, resulting in numerous allegations of victimization in educational institutions and workplaces. With the exception of a few cases, not much has been done to counteract this. Although much of the Akpabio/Akpoti-Uduaghan matter is still hazy, it is deeply disturbing that the matter arose in the first place, Regardless of the outcome, the key is...

  By abiodun KOMOLAFE. June 12, 1993 marked a significant setback for Nigeria, harking back to the January 15, 1966, coup-d’etat. This unfortunate event pushed the country back by at least a century, primarily due to the suspension of the 1963 Republican Constitution. Although the masterminds behind the coup never explicitly stated that they had abolished the constitution, the consequences of its suspension continue to manifest in Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment. Ayo Ademiluyi, a civil rights lawyer and political activist, recently pointed out that the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida government, similar to previous and succeeding military administrations, was characterized by diarchy. This system of governance, which combines the military top brass and parts of the political establishment, was more pronounced under IBB, as Babangida is known, than any other military administration. This diarchy was on full display during the publication and public presentation of a book, t...