The separate spheres theory and women in politics
The core fundamentals of politics as propounded by 17th century political theorists like Thomas Hobbe and John Locke were built on the belief in the private-public dichotomy, one that pushed the theory that the private space even though an area of societal life, was opposite and separate from the public life. Charles de Montesquieu respected […]
The president and the people: A romance about to go sour
It was no small jubilation that trailed the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the March 28 presidential polls. Many who voted him basked in the euphoria of that victory on social media and the streets of the various states of the country for quite a while. It was almost impossible to escape the fawning coverage that greeted his entrance into Abuja for the May 29 inauguration ceremony.
Nigerian Youths and the Burden of Posterity
In commemoration of United Nations International Youth Day The youth of a nation are trustees of posterity – Benjamin Disreali The above statement by the enigmatic politician and novelist who served twice as Prime Minister of Britain in the 19th Century is one of the many aphorisms underscoring the importance of young people to a […]
Nigerian Youths and the Burden of Posterity
In commemoration of United Nations International Youth Day The youth of a nation are trustees of posterity – Benjamin Disreali
The above statement by the enigmatic politician and novelist who served twice as Prime Minister of Britain in the 19th Century is one of the many aphorisms underscoring the importance of young people to a society. Estimated to be approximately 18 percent of the world population at 1 billion, young people form the axle around which the world economy and society in general revolves
The Politics of Valentine and the need to curb violent rhetoric
February 14th is a day known around the world as a day of celebrating love. Its origin is a subject of controversy, but according to one legend, it is a holiday with roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a festival of fertility once observed annually on February 15. Why Pope Gelasius renamed Lupercalia, changed its day of observance to a day earlier and dedicated it to a Roman martyr called Saint Valentine in 496 AD is something we will never know, but that is not the purpose of this article. This year, like every other year before it, the world will celebrate another Valentine’s Day. In some countries, business savvy entrepreneurs will make a killing from hordes of doe eyed lovers willing to shell big bucks in commemoration of the holiday. In culturally conservative countries, the law will prosecute recalcitrant capitalists and ensure that red hearts and roses are banished to windowless backrooms.
The Danger Of Doing Nothing
On Saturday, the 17th of November, Lloyd Michael, one of the four young men killed by a blood thirsty crowd in the Aluu-Umuokiri local government area of Rivers State was laid to rest in Port Harcourt.
Reading about the burial brought back the sadness I felt when the news of these young men broke and it made me ask questions.
What happened to those suspects rounded up by the police after the gruesome murder of these young men?
As Kings Take To The Sky
I have always told myself that Nigeria is not a republic and I still hold that fact to be true. For those who have been dreaming that we are a republic, welcome to the real world. We are a monarchy where several kings hold sway. In this country, kings and their minions rule over 160 million subjects. If you see meaningless titles like president or governor, it is just a mirage. We are not a republic. This is a place where kings reign without recourse to the law. It is a place where the subjects are treated with disdain and utter contempt.
A Game Of Committee And Reports
Nigerians are used to a lot of things. They are used to consistent black outs, bad roads, non-existent infrastructure, and poverty. They are even used to government committees and the different reports they come up with. Earlier this year on February 28 when the minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Allison Madueke appointed Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as chairman of a 17 member special task force tasked with the responsibility of bringing sanity and transparency to the petroleum industry, not a few people wondered if this was not just another attempt by the government to waste more resources on a fruitless effort.
GEJ: Impressing An Empty Hall
The 67th session of the UN General Assembly started on the 18th of September 2012 and is expected to run till December. As usual world leaders converged in New York for the purpose of presenting issues affecting their respective countries, debating, and make policy making. Generally, the U.N General Assembly, provides a forum or platform for multilateral discussion of international issues covered the UN charter or affecting the world at the moment. This event usually commands the attention of the politically minded the world over who are aware of the fast reaching implications of the decisions taken at these meetings.
Of Presidential Bed Rest And The Rest Of Us
When the news was leaked that the first lady had taken ill and had to be flown abroad for medical attention, there were many speculations about the state of her health as the presidency had kept Nigerians in the dark about the whereabouts of Mrs. Jonathan. We heard of a burst appendix and then that was replaced by uterine fibroids. As Nigerians were left scratching their heads and wondering which news to believe, the president was hush hush about the whole matter, with the spokesman of the first lady, Ayo Osinlu telling Nigerians that the Mrs. Jonathan had only gone for a bed rest in Germany after hosting the African First Ladies Summit. It is more than two weeks since the news broke and yet, and Nigerians continue to depend on the grapevine and newspaper reports to stay informed on the whole situation.