By FRANCIS P GOMO A fresh vision for restructuring Nigeria calls for shorter, six-year tenures for the president and governors to ensure accountability and efficiency. The country could be divided into five regions—Middle Belt, Niger Delta, West, East, and North—with constitutional zoning for top positions like president, vice president, Senate president, Speaker, and Chief Justice, rotating […]
By AROH ANTHONY IBUSA, one of Delta State’s oldest and most organized communities, runs on a finely layered traditional hierarchy that blends age-old governance, spiritual authority and cultural identity. At its apex stands HRH Obi (Prof.) Louis Cheluno Nwaoboshi, the Obuzo of Ibuzor—custodian of custom and symbol of the community’s sovereignty. But beneath the throne lies […]
By NINI NDUONOFIT-AKOH PORT Harcourt did not begin as a British invention. Long before it was stamped into maps in 1913, the land was already mapped in the imagination of Eastern traders. They called it Igwe Ocha — “the White High Place.” It was a name inspired not by myth, but by observation: dazzling white […]
By EMEKA ESOGBUE ANIOMA’S story is one of cultural depth, continuity, and interconnected identity—an evolving civilization shaped by centuries of exchange, leadership innovation, and spiritual tradition. From its layered ethnic roots to its sophisticated socio-political systems, Anioma stands as a testament to an enduring heritage. The region developed distinctive leadership structures, including the Omuship and […]
By BUNMI BUSOLA How Nigeria Built a Tax System Few Understand but Everyone Depends On IN every functioning nation, taxation is the engine that drives development. It builds roads, powers hospitals, funds education, and keeps government institutions alive. Yet in Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation—the tax system remains a puzzle to many citizens, […]
By FATIMA HUSSAINI TAXATION in Nigeria did not begin with colonialism—it has always been part of the country’s governance culture, long before the arrival of British authorities. From the levies imposed by pre-colonial kingdoms to the highly centralised tax systems introduced under British rule and the complex, often chaotic frameworks of today, Nigeria’s tax story […]
By ALIYU AMINU ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI (A.A.A.A.) SHEHU ACROSS many Nigerian states, Muslims form a significant share of the population—sometimes even the clear majority. Yet their presence in political leadership remains disproportionately low. In several states with large Muslim populations, it is still uncommon to find a Muslim serving as deputy governor, heading key ministries, or […]
By JULIET EKANEM STRETCHING across the heart of Nigeria is the Middle Belt — a culturally rich and politically complex region whose identity has long been overshadowed by the country’s North–South power struggle. Home to a mosaic of ethnic groups including the Tiv, Idoma, Berom, Jukun, Gwari, Igbo, Yoruba, Igala and many others, the Middle […]
By EMEKA ESOGBUE ACROSS today’s Igbo society, Odogwu is a familiar badge of honour — a praise name for achievers, philanthropists, and men of influence. Yet behind this modern popularity lies a largely forgotten history: Odogwu was once a formal military title rooted not in Eastern or Central Igboland, but in the Anioma (Enuani) communities of […]
By DAVID JOHN-FLUKE THE debate over creating Anioma State or Adada State has stirred strong emotions across the South-East, yet the core issues remain straightforward. Both proposals aim to address long-standing regional concerns, but their impacts are not equal. Anioma State, carved from Delta North, would bring culturally Igbo-speaking communities formally into the South-East. For […]