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THE TYRANNY OF GODFATHERS: HOW WIKE’S ALLEGED GRIP ON RIVERS’ TREASURY EXPOSES NIGERIA’S CORRUPT POLITICAL SYSTEM

The political landscape of Rivers State has been embroiled in controversy, with allegations surfacing that former Governor Nyesom Wike demanded substantial financial kickbacks from his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. These claims have ignited debates about the pervasive influence of political godfathers in Nigeria, and the societal attitudes that enable such corruption to persist. Allegations of Financial Demands Reports indicate that Wike insisted on receiving a significant portion of the State's monthly allocation. Specifically, he allegedly demanded 25% of all State allocations, a sum that would severely constrain the State's developmental initiatives. Additionally, Wike purportedly sought ₦ 2 billion from the ₦ 5 billion palliative funds intended to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal. These assertions were highlighted by activist and lawyer Chetam Thierry Nwala, who emphasized the detrimental impact such demands could have on the State's prog...

THE APOTHEOSIS OF ANARCHISM IN NIGER-AREA: THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR EVERY NIGER-AREAN POSSESSING A GUN

In what appears to be a tragicomic spiral of our national reality, some legislators in Nigeria are now seriously contemplating the legalisation of firearms for every adult citizen. What is their justification? To enable Nigerians defend themselves – yes, defend themselves – against what is now a state-sanctioned silence in the face of Fulani terrorism and unrelenting banditry. The very suggestion that Nigerians should arm themselves marks not only a new low in legislative desperation, but it also signals the first full-blown stage of the collapse of the Nigerian state – what we might now call the descent from Nigeria to Niger-area , a crumbling caricature of a republic once paid for in the blood of nationalists and visionaries. A Gun for Every Citizen? It is no longer hearsay. Senator Ned Nwoko recently moved to sponsor a bill that would legalise gun ownership for every Nigerian adult, citing the need for self-defence. He is not alone. Other voices in the ...

NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST MOBILE NETWORK INTERLOCUTORS

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is tasked with regulating the telecommunications sector, ensuring fair pricing, quality service, and consumer protection. Hence, among others, the NCC is to esure: · Consumer Protection: Ensuring that mobile users receive quality service, fair pricing, and protection from exploitation by telecom providers. · Quality of Service (QoS) Monitoring: Enforcing standards to ensure network operators provide reliable voice and data services. · Tariff Regulation: Preventing excessive charges and ensuring competitive pricing for mobile services. (see the NCC's Consumer Protection Regulations .) These obligations align with the NCC’s mission to create a robust, consumer-friendly, and competitive telecommunications industry in Nigeria, y et, rather than standing as a shield for the average Nigerian ...

EASTER GALORE – CHRIST: THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE ABYSS OF DEATH

In the theatre of eternity, where time bows before timelessness and angels veil their faces before unspeakable glory, one singular moment tore the fabric of history – a man entered death not as a captive, but as a conqueror. The Descent into the Abyss Death – gaping, ravenous, final. A pit dark and bottomless, where ancient kings sleep and prophets weep. Its gates are iron, its chains forged from the judgment of sin. No soul had ever returned, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and all had sinned. Every grave was a fortress. Every tomb, a seal. But then came Christ. Not dragged, but driven by love, He stepped into the void. Mocked, marred, pierced, and lifeless, His body was wrapped and laid in the heart of the earth. Yet in the unseen realm, this was no passive submission. This was war. The Silence That Shook the Heavens For three days, creation held its breath. The sun had darkened, the earth had quaked, the veil had torn – but Hel...

AN IMMINENT REVOLUTION: A TROUBLED GIANT AFIRE ON A 30-DAY RANT

The air in Nigeria is thick with tension, a palpable sense of urgency that can no longer be ignored. The courage of the Nigerian youth, long suppressed by endemic corruption and systemic oppression, is now growing louder. As the suffering of the common man escalates, so too does the resolve of a generation determined to reclaim their nation from the hands of the corrupt elite. A Democratic Revolution Betrayed In the recent elections that brought Tinubu to power, young voters faced a stark reality: their votes did not count. This betrayal could have been tolerated if the status quo had remained merely precarious. However, the abject suffering, rampant human rights violations, and the total collapse of democratic institutions have become the last straw. The disillusionment felt by the youth is not just a fleeting sentiment; it is a rallying cry for change. Reports indicate that over 40% of young voters felt disenfranchised...

COMPLICITY OF THE POWER ELITE, AND THE GRADUAL FULANISATION OF NIGERIA

In the throes of political apathy and cowardice, Nigeria today bleeds from an incurable wound inflicted, not just by foreign invaders, but by the criminal silence of those entrusted with her guardianship. The systematic infiltration of Fulani herders—many of whom are not even Nigerians—into every crevice of our sovereign land has become one of the most daring episodes of silent conquest in contemporary African history. From Sokoto to Enugu, from Zamfara to Oyo, stories abound of farmlands destroyed, women raped, sons slaughtered, and communities reduced to IDP camps, while their ancestral lands are claimed by wandering cattlemen who wield AK-47s with more authority than our security forces ( Amnesty International, 2018 ). The police pay deaf ears, when cases of Fulani invasions are recorded. But, dare you touch even a cow of the Fulanis who have caused you severe harm, that is when the police will act, slamming you with several charges. And what do our leaders do? Nothing. ...

DRAMATURGY AND THE NIGERIAN LEADERSHIP LANDSCAPE

Nigeria’s political stage is a grand theatre, where actors masquerade as leaders, delivering performances tailored for applause rather than progress. Erving Goffman’s concept of Dramaturgy, otherwise called the Conman Theory—where individuals present themselves in ways designed to control and influence their audience—perfectly encapsulates the chameleonic nature of Nigerian politicians. They are not driven by ideological convictions or a deep-seated passion for national development; rather, they are political performers, switching costumes, adjusting scripts, and defecting from one party to another in pursuit of personal gain. The question remains: can Nigeria ever ascend beyond this charade, or are we doomed to a perpetual cycle of deceit? The Art of Defection: Politics Without Conviction In most thriving democracies, political parties are rooted in distinct ideologies—conservatism, liberalism, socialism—shaping policies and governance. In Nigeria, however, parties ar...