Author: Martins Oloja

THIS is the fourth time that I have written on this same subject, civic incompetence and danger of complacency even as we lament daily about the illusion called ‘dividends of democracy.’ I have written and spoken to this same theme under different titles. One of the titles has been on the danger of ignoring PVC as a weapon of mass destruction of corrupt leadership. I have had to return to this same subject at this time because we are on the march again. The race for 2027 has even taken the steam out of the need to protect the people…

THERE are more reasons to continue with this discussion point this week on strategic and development plans for revival of development agenda and other critical success factors in northern Nigeria. I rounded off the second edition of this serial the other day with what the iconic Obafemi Awolowo predicted long ago if the northern elites failed to have consensus on how to leverage on mass education to develop their region in this complex federation. I hope the message of hope sank in. There have been more suggestions and warnings to the northern elites and leaders about failure to freeze national…

OLUSOLA Oke, SAN will arrive on the 7th Floor on Tuesday April 7, 2026. The fisherman turned lawyer and politician will mark the day in Akure, capital of Ondo State with a presentation of his autobiography titled, ‘From The Ocean To The Bar’.Enjoy some appetizers from the very remarkable book, which promises to be a classic on law, ethics, politics and leadership. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN wrote the Foreword to the Book. The starters: ‘Political financing and my legal profession’ From the very beginning of my political journey, I made a solemn personal…

GOVERNOR Idris wept this week as terrorists killed soldiers, police in night ambush in Kebbi state… According to a credible report, Nasir Idris, Governor of Kebbi State could not hold back tears in public on Wednesday morning this week after witnessing another devastation caused in the state by terrorists who ambushed a group of security operatives on duty. The deadly ambush resulted in killing nine soldiers and one policeman. The attack was carried out on Tuesday night in Giro Masa community in the Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where the security operatives, who had responded to a distress…

THIS is another time for me to speak to the powers that be, specifically to the elites in northern Nigeria who don’t appear to understand the times in the country and indeed the world today. It seems to me that the northern leaders do not know the man in office and in power today, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu who has just been curiously honoured by the British Empire. I am not too sure that the northern elites understand the significance and majesty of the state visit, the colourful reception accorded Nigeria’s leader by the British powers. We will return to…

INCREDIBLE as it may sound, the captive of the terrorists, Citizen Leah Sharibu, The Guardian’s 2018 ‘Person of the Year’ the newspaper’s editorial board aptly as “A goddess of resistance” is still in captivity of the wicked! She has spent agonising eight years in the wilderness of the scoundrels despite a series of promises by Nigeria’s leaders. That is why before anyone would ask this weekend, what is happening in Iran, Israel and indeed the Middle East, let’s spare a thought about a Middle Belt Citizen her nation has forgotten because of too much politics of denial of reality of…

EVEN as the authorities in Nigeria grapple with the expediency of legalising the much talked about state policing as a critical element in the country’s quest for federalism, let’s conclude our discussion points on the lessons we can take away from the Epstein’s Files that have been instructive to the extent of showing us that business and political leadership can’t thrive amidst impurities in their corporate governance systems. Admittedly, we can claim in a sense that the Epstein’s Files have revealed a great deal about the global elite and the western value system. Yes, the partially released Epstein Files depicts…

UNTIL the last syllable of our recorded time, we, as commentators in the media will continue to set agenda, identify systemic rot and contextually report what somebody somewhere is trying to hide; that is the news because the rest is public relations. Whether our political and business leaders like it or not, we will continue to transmit real time to our audiences what is odd, bizarre, unusual about people, places, events and issues. Those in office and power today may not care about what we journalists disclose and transmit in public interest. Media products, especially the news can be transmitted…

WE have celebrated what he created 50 years ago. The seven states he created the same day, February 3, 1976 were celebrated last week. Strangely, only Abuja wasn’t celebrated. But the Minister of Abuja has promised that the birthday of the 50-year-old Territory would be celebrated in May this year when the Tinubu’s consequential three years in power would be marked. But more important, if authorities in Abuja were too busy to celebrate the work of his hand, his family and friends have celebrated the Hurricane General Murtala Ramat Muhammed Lagos, Abuja and Kano, his birthplace. Having contextually reported and…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike are facing criticism for their curious failure in celebrating Abuja’s 50th anniversary, especially since seven other states created on the same day, February 3, 1976, marked their golden jubilee with a great deal of noisy celebrations. According to the constitution, Tinubu is the Governor of Abuja, and so he only delegates his powers to Wike as FCT Minister. It is incredible and painfully so that the landmark anniversary, 50th birthday of Abuja passed with little fanfare, sparking outrage among Abuja’s residents and indigenous communities, who feel insulted. marginalised and excluded from…

IT is indeed a time to celebrate with Abuja and a group of seven states Hurricane Murtala Muhammed who spent barely six months in office created 50 years ago. They will all clock 50 years on Tuesday February 3, 2026. It is also a time to reflect on the consequences of that political choice of creating seven more states (Benue, Bauchi, Borno, Imo, Oyo, Ondo and Ogun,) that joined the then General Gowon’s twelve states. It is worth recalling to younger people who never experienced first-hand the consequences of military rule that before the seven states’ creation and proclamation of…

MOROCCO, the host of the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations, (AFCON 2025) has continued to receive rave reviews over what has been generally noted as provision of world-class facilities. Even Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, couldn’t hide his praise for Morocco’s role as the host of the AFCON 2025, highlighting the country’s organisational excellence and world-standard football infrastructure. In an interview with Al Sharq Sports on the sidelines of the World Sports Summit in Dubai, Infantino described Morocco as a “great country and a wonderful host” for the championship. Specifically, the Italian FIFA boss spoke on the quality of…

IN a representative democracy, a parliament’s primary role is to represent the people’s interests and ensure their voices are heard. Even in crisis times, a parliament isn’t supposed to lose its voice. If it does, the consequences can be dire. The people will suffer, and the very fabric of democracy will be threatened. That is why scholars such as Professor Ben Nwabuezehave always insisted that the legislature is the most important arm of government in a democracy. Which is why when anti-democratic forces strike down democracy, the first institution they want to dissolve is the legislature as other arms, the…

DON’T get it twisted, Hurricane Nyesom Wike, generally believed to be in the eye of the storm at the moment, deserves much more than he is getting from all his political allies, colleagues and even the mainstream media. As for the media chiefs, I wonder why none considered Wike as the “Man of the Year’ last month when they allocated that value. That may have been due to the level of our media development. If the stormy petrel, Wike were to be an American, ‘TIME’ might have considered him as an undisputable genius of our time. After all, ‘TIME’ has…

AS a minister of the word, I would like to preach today some words of life to our people, especially our duty bearers, our leaders that God has given onerous responsibilities to run Nigeria to the glory of His name. It has become clearer to the people of this country now that most of our dealers, sorry leaders at all levels appear to have derailed and come short of the glory of God. But I believe the revelation and engrafted word of that same great God who opens a door that no man can shut. I know that His mercy…

WHAT played out as early retirement of PC Asiodu in 1975 was not the only time that his confidence, courage and capacity to speak truth to power would be an albatross to the deployment of his talents for the national good. There were two other instances that I was privileged to be availed of by SGF Chief Ufot Ekaette when I was working with him, as I hinted early in this Review. On Chief Ekaette’s appointment as SGF, he met me as one of the directors in his office. Chief Asiodu was the Chief Economic Adviser to the President and…

ON page 127 he seized on his presentation titled “Growth and Development In Nigeria – Medium-Term Prospects” which he presented at the Oxford & Cambridge of Nigeria Business Forum on April 18, 2013 to invite the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to that critical issue as follows: “The smoothest and least traumatic scenario is for the incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, with the authority derived from a universally (local and foreign) acclaimed election to assume that role of imposing good governance in all its aspects on our nation during the next two years i.e. end of his mandate”. What it…

A REMARKABLE book presentation in honour of one of the most significant public servants Nigeria has ever produced, Izoma, Philip Chikwuedo Asiodu, 91, took place at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday this week, (December 3, 2025). The presentation of Hallmarks of Labour Special Edition Series featuring the iconic Philip Asiodu was well attended by many senior citizens who would make us relive Nigeria as it used to be before the rains began to beat us. Sadly, the event by the author, Chief Patricia Otuedon- Arawore was poorly reported by the news media operatives who were apparently unaware.…

EXPECTEDLY, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency, ordering the Nigerian Police and Armed Forces to recruit additional personnel to tackle rising insecurity across the country. He also appealed to the National Assembly to begin legislative legwork on the imperative of State police at this time. In a statement, the president directed the police to recruit 20,000 new officers, bringing the total planned intake to 50,000. He also authorised the use of National Youth Service Corps camps as temporary training facilities for the recruits. Part of the statement: “Today, in view of the emerging security situation,…

THE inspiration to comment on the whereabouts of our wonderful legislators at this time stemmed from our women from the North under the umbrella of Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) who early this week condemned the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.  They described the incident as a direct challenge to Nigeria’s leadership and collective humanity. In a statement by members of the group, Asmau Joda, Maryam Uwais, Mairo Mandara, Aisha Oyebode, Fatima Akilu, Kadaria Ahmed, Larai Ocheja Amusan, and Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, they expressed outrage over the weekend attack…