VERITATEM with Obadiah Mailafia

IN late nineteenth century pre-revolutionary Russia, we are told of a dozen men that were lined up to be executed for opposing the Tsar. As the executioners got set with their guns to begin action, an emissary from the royal palace suddenly…

IT was a big relief to all democratic forces in Africa when the Ethiopian military putsch of Saturday, June 22, was crushed by the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. It all began ominously with the assassination of the president of…

THE conspiracy against Nigeria began as far back as the 16th century trans-Atlantic commerce in human souls. Perhaps as much as 80 per cent of the slaves that were transported to the New World were taken from the Gulf of Guinea. The coastal…

Let me place my cards on the table: I am not inherently a believer in conspiracy theories. Nor do I subscribe to the view of those philosophers of history who believe no perfidy or ignominy occurs in our world without one form of conspiracy…

Yesterday, Sunday, June 16 was Father’s Day. A day when fathers are celebrated the world over. It was a pleasure to receive several calls and messages wishing me well on this day of all days. I also remember my beloved father who went into…

IT sounds hackneyed to say that we in Nigeria face extraordinary challenges. We may not be quite a failed state; but we are rapidly descending that bottomless gadarene lake.Nigeria today is the world capital of poverty. Some 90 million…

CONGRATULATIONS for being sworn into the exalted office of chief executive of your state. Under our constitution, the Governor is not only the principal administrator but also the chief security officer of the state. Some of our jurists…

It can take years to build an architectural masterpiece, but only hours to destroy it. The same can be said of democracy. It takes decades – even centuries – to build the temple of liberty, but you only need a moment of madness to bring the…

It takes a lot to get me ruffled, but last week, I read a story from the social media that disturbed my peace. It is the tragic story of a young man by the name of Emmanuel Balogun, aged 17. He was a freshman undergraduate of the University…

Just a few days ago, I found myself thinking of Elephant. Elephant was a friend and senior at my old missionary boarding school in the defunct Benue-Plateau State. Of course, Elephant was not his real name. He was so nick-named because he…