Revisiting Nigeria Before the Colonial Map THE modern Nigerian state is often treated as an ancient, fixed political entity. In reality, Nigeria is a relatively recent creation, formally established in 1914 through British colonial amalgamation. Long before this administrative act, the territory now known as Nigeria was home to multiple sophisticated and autonomous civilisations, each […]
STRUCTURAL POWER & INCUMBENCY ANALYSIS Defections as Strategy, Not Sentiment WHEN a significant majority of Nigeria’s state governors migrate to a single ruling party ahead of a general election, it is rarely an expression of ideological conversion or sudden public admiration for performance. Rather, it is a calculated alignment of political power—one rooted in the […]
State Creation and Regional Strategy: Weighing the Anioma, Adada and Anim Proposals THE agitation for an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East has gained renewed momentum amid longstanding concerns about political imbalance within the federation. Central to the current debate are three proposals—Anioma, Adada and Anim—each advancing different visions […]
By JULIET EKANEM Talent Abundance, Systemic Deficit ACROSS major African cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Johannesburg and Cape Town, a consistent pattern emerges: a population rich in skill, creativity and entrepreneurial drive, yet constrained by structural weaknesses that limit sustainable success. Observers of Africa’s informal and formal economies frequently encounter young men and women capable […]
Historical Analogy and the Return of Power Politics A World Drifting from Rules to Force RECENT global developments have reignited an uncomfortable debate among scholars and policymakers: is the international system retreating from rules-based governance toward an older, harsher logic of power? The renewed American interest in Greenland under President Donald Trump, alongside escalating trade […]
Why Nigerians Are Pushing Back Against New Tax Laws NIGERIA’S new tax laws were officially slated to take effect on January 1, but rather than signalling a smooth reform process, their rollout has ignited intense resistance, scepticism and debate across economic, legal and civic spaces. From labour activists and civil society groups to economists and […]
The Long Road to 2027 How Nigeria’s Political Future Is Being Negotiated Quietly ELECTIONS in Nigeria do not begin with campaign posters or rallies. They begin much earlier, in silence. The absence of noise should not be mistaken for inactivity. On the contrary, the most consequential political manoeuvres often occur […]
Sixty Years On, the Ghosts of January 1966 Still Linger AS Nigeria marked the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15, the date carried deeper historical weight. It also marked 60 years since the country’s first military coup, an event that shattered the First Republic and set Nigeria on a path to civil war. […]
By NJORIGE LYNUS ‘Architect of Modern Nigeria’ Comment Sparks Online Reckoning WHEN First Lady Oluremi Tinubu described President Bola Tinubu as “the architect of modern Nigeria,” many Nigerians responded not with applause but with biting commentary that reflected deep economic anxiety. Posted on her official Facebook page, the statement quickly gained traction, drawing thousands of […]
Rivers Assembly Crisis and the Cost of Political Warfare WHEN Siminalayi Fubara was sworn in as Governor of Rivers State on 29 May 2023, expectations were high that the state would experience a period of consolidation after years of intense political dominance by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Instead, within five months […]