The Thread: Nigeria wasn&#8217;t always so polarised

Vera Ezimora: The Igbo language is trying to kill me

by Vera Ezimora The Igbo language is really trying to drive me nuts. Let me tell you how. The other day, I was on my computer writing (not blogging) when I suddenly got inspired to add a twist to what I was writing, but to complete it, I needed the Igbo word for Lion. I... Read More

Cover Stories

life, Ndi Igbo, nigeria, Nigerian languages, Vera Ezimora

Farooq Kperogi: Dangerous fine print in Emir Sanusi’s prescriptions for Buhari

by Farooq Kperogi Emir Muhammad Sanusi II’s well-publicized December 2, 2016, public lecture on the Nigerian economy has divided Nigerians into two broad camps. In one camp you have the unreasoning, knee-jerk Buhari apologists who can’t brook the slightest criticism of their idol. This camp lashed out—and are still lashing out— at the emir for... Read More

Buhari, Economic policies, IMF, nigeria, recession, sanusi

The Thread: After conceding defeat, Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh rejects results

Last week, The Gambia held its election. The victor of that election was Adama Barrow. Just days after conceding defeat to Adama Barrow, incumbent President Yahya Jammeh says he is rejecting the results of that election in its totality. Watch: https://cdn.theguardian.tv/mainwebsite/2016/12/10/161210GambianPresident2_desk.mp4 This, despite the fact that his concession call was captured on video. See reactions... Read More

Cover Stories

Adama Barrow, africa, election, Politics, The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh

Eziaghighala Chinaza Ebere: Looking for utopia [Nigerian Voices]

by Eziaghighala Chinaza Ebere Empty streets like a ghost town except for the orange outfits or savage bike riders who break every rule imaginable due to suffering and sadness. The old woman is sweeping. “Good morning ma”, I said as I walk beside her appreciating her workmanship. She looks back and I see in her yellow... Read More

Nigerian Voices

hardship, lagos, nigeria, Nigerian Voices, Ojuelegba, utopia

Opinion: Musings on news media adverts and hypocrisy

Michael O. Ogunjobi Admittedly, over the years, sponsored messages have become a means of appealing to the conscience of many, or mere showcase of status; an appointee eulogising the appointer, a stooge his godfather, lobbyist his boss; all aiming at a target audience. Flowing from the above, it is a delight to discover that these... Read More

donald trump, hypocrisy, Media, nigeria, NYSC scheme, traditional media and the Hollywood elite

Opinion: Lagos state budget 2017 | What the government is not telling us

by Oke Godwin Olaoluwa The Lagos state is in the news again. The state has set a new record, for the highest amount of budget proposal ever prepared by a single Nigerian state. The budget is estimated to be about 11% of the total budget of the federal government of Nigeria. The budget tagged “The Golden... Read More

2017 budget, economy, Governance, lagos, opinion, revenue

Opinion: Ndi Igbo and the need for new leadership

by Chinyere Akataobi The 1914 Amalgamation of the northern and Southern protectorate can be likened to a forced marriage consummated between individuals who were never lovers, individuals who never did any form of courtship and individuals who were never attracted to each other. Ndi Igbo were forced to be part of this sham of a marriage... Read More

igbos, leaders, M.I Okpara’s, Mbonu Ojike, Nnamdi Azikiwe, south east

Peregrino Brimah: Like Nigeria, corrupt inheritor after President’s death replaced by aged opponent | #GhanaDecides

by Peregrino Brimah In an eerie form of coincident destiny, the electoral stories of Nigeria and Ghana have followed quite identical paths for the last series of transitions. The Good Both nations had quite popular presidents who died in office. In Nigeria late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died in office in 2010 at age 58 years and was replaced by... Read More

Buhari, Ghana election, Goodluck Jonathan, John Mahama, Nana Akufo-Addo, nigeria, Politics

“Don’t wait for the world to first validate your idea. Do it and do not look back.” | Leading Ladies Africa interviews Marini Naturals CEO, Michelle Ntalami

Michelle Ntalami, CEO of Marini Naturals, East Africa’s First Quality hairline for women, has been able to turn her passion for natural hair into a strong brand that is well known in East Africa. In our interview with her, she tells us where it all began and how she plans to take over the world... Read More

business Women, entrepreneurs, Leading Ladies Africa, marina, Michelle Ntalami, nigeria

Dele Momodu: Like Nigeria, like Ghana

Fellow Africans, something great happened in Ghana last night. Before the Ghana Electoral Commission had concluded collating and releasing the results of the Presidential elections, President John Dramani Mahama made the right move when he called his arch-rival, Nana Akufo-Addo, to concede defeat and congratulate him on a battle well-fought. With that act, President Mahama... Read More

Dele Momodu, elections, Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, Nana Akufo-Addo, nigeria, Politics

The Thread: This is one of the worst marriage stories you will ever read

Is it only in Nigeria these sort of tales are spun? Is it only in Nigeria that stories that you would think a fiction of one’s imagination are actually true to life? The story below is nothing short of jaw-dropping. It will leave you thinking this is a classic for Nollywood. Let’s not stand in... Read More

Cover Stories

death, jazz, Marriage, nigeria, nollywood

Opinion: A case for the devolution of power to Nigeria’s federating units

by Ugochukwu Amasike Recently a bill seeking to grant states control over mineral resources within their domain passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to vest the control of the revenues derived from minerals,... Read More

1963 Republican Constitution, 1999 Constitution, federation, nigeria, recession

Afam Ade-Odiachi: The rise of the fitness culture in Lagos

Writer and Journalist, Afam Ade-Odiachi, has a short documentary film starring from the Lagos Road Warriors (Mark Zuckerberg ran with them during his time in Lagos). This documentary chronicles the rise of fitness in Lagos. The preference among Lagosians seems to be the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge and the Teslim Balogun stadium in Surulere. Other persons he discusses... Read More

Afam Ade-Odiache, exercise, Fitness, lagos, mark zuckerberg, nigeria

Femi Fani-Kayode: Nasir El-Rufai and the bloodfest in Southern Kaduna (Pt. 1)

by Femi Fani-Kayode “We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not, that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes” – Mallam Nasir El Rufai, 2012. I will never forget these words. How I wish that my friend and brother, Governor Nasir El Rufai,... Read More

el rufai, Fulani, kaduna, killings, nigeria, terrorists

The Thread: From rich kid to middle class- how 2016 taught me life lessons

As the year winds down, people are introspecting and sharing truths from their life’s experiences. Here’s @lolaloveandart, sharing different ways 2016 has impacted on their lives. This one is gold. Do see below: https://twitter.com/lolaloveandart/status/807108476921139200 https://twitter.com/lolaloveandart/status/807117622043099136 *claps furiously*

Opinion: The demystification of Professor Soyinka?

by Simon Utsu Soyinka finally unveiled himself as a disrespectful hypocrite when he said a few days back that the green card he claimed he had destroyed (on his own terms) was given to him by President Jimmy Carter. Is that how to ridicule a gift? At least you should have waited for Jimmy Carter... Read More

Bob Dylan, chinua achebe, green card, Jimmy Carter, nigeria, Nobel Prize, Professor Soyinka

The Thread: Corruption in the IDP camp

The mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East appears to be another opportunity for fraud. According to a document written in October, the Senate noted they were: “disturbed that already, we are losing so many of our children under 5 years to these extreme conditions in the affected areas; concerned that though on the 17th... Read More

boko haram, corruption, IDP, nigeria, north-east

Opinion: Mimiko, Louis Odion and the limits of charlalism

by Jude Ndukwe Without much ado and for the purpose of clarity, let me quickly inform that the term charlalism as used in this piece refers to a situation where an otherwise established journalist descends into the odious arena of charlatanism just to satisfy some vested interests and or for pecuniary benefits. Succinctly put, charlalism... Read More

APC, Justice Abang, Louis Odion, nigeria, Ondo Elections, PDP

Charly Boy: Only prayers can save Nigeria?

by Charly boy Which kin Mumu thinking be that. Our docility is killing our humanity; Our indifference is enabling corruption in governance and our silence is creating political monsters with the audacity for impunity and criminality. Mr. prayer warrior, if prayers can save Nigeria, pray tell: why are there millions of frustrated Naijas? Have prayers... Read More

Change, Charly Boy, corruption, Inertia, nigeria, prayers, Religion

Seun Onigbinde: Buhari isn’t the change we envisioned

by Seun Onigbinde I try to always introspect before I put pieces here on Facebook recently. Why? Because I am a humbled man. Humbled because the Buhari I sold to you is not the one in charge. I can understand how I was so zealous about Buhari. When I saw him in 2011, I nearly... Read More

APC, Buhari, Change, IBB, IDP Camps, nigeria, Politics

The Church Blog: The Platform takes it to the logical next level – and we’re impressed

Pastor Poju Oyemade himself must have felt it – this was the year that The Platform finally went mainstream. You certainly know something has gone mainstream when the videos go viral on ‘Igwe Tupac’ Twitter and Instagram and even old-time-river politicians in Abuja are referring to it. The star speech, and the one that made... Read More

Church Culture

Covenant Christian Centre, Governance, Pastors and influence, peter obi, Poju Oyemade, Politics, School of Governance, The Church Blog, the platform

The Thread: Is this how people steal from internally displaced persons (IDPs)?

We have our priorities mixed up and bent backwards in Nigeria, which is why the whole talk about fighting corruption is nothing short of ludicrous. 97 million naira to renovate a police station? Why? Are the lives of police officers improved? Has their earning power been upgraded? Their living quarters, nko (It’s not out of place... Read More

Babachir Lawal, Borno, Fraud, IDP coruption probe, nigeria, north-east

The Thread: “This is how the North is dragging Nigeria behind”

Catchment area, quota system, these are some of the things that buried Nigeria’s education system. Do see below: https://twitter.com/TheIvuoma/status/806809027661266944 Great Nigeria?

Catchment area, education, nigeria, Northern privilege, quota system

Opinion: Use of English

by Omidire Idowu How we use certain English words sickens me gravely. This is the reason I would love to start by making us understand some meanings of CHARGE AND RECHARGE. The verb “Charge” is an amount (of money) for an activity, service or a product. Examples: I will charge 200 naira for helping you... Read More

charge, credit, Nigerian English, Nigerian expressions, Recharge, Use of English

Peregrino Brimah: State of Emergency | Arrest Kaduna Gov Nasir El-Rufai for admitting to sponsoring terrorists

by Peregrino Brimah Kaduna state governor Nasir el-Rufai made a startling revelation last week. He admitted openly to financially sponsoring terrorists in Nigeria and neighboring countries. The governor publicly admitted that he sent emissaries to give money from Nigeria’s treasury to Fulani insurgents who had taken to brazen and brutal terror, mass massacring mostly Christian communities... Read More

boko haram, el rufai, emergency, Peregrino Brimah, State of emergency

Olusegun Adeniyi: Is Sanusi also among the wailers?

by Olusegun Adeniyi Even though the naira was still very strong at the exchange rate of 60 kobo to a dollar (yes, in this same Nigeria!) and graduates could afford to be choosy when it came to employment and career prospects, there were tell tale signs by mid 1981 that the economy had begun to... Read More

Olusegun Adeniyi, President Goodluck Jonathan, sanusi, The Gambia, Wailers

The Thread: She saved my number as Elvis cold stone

Relationships can be touch and go: one person can be invested in the relationship and the other is just along for the ride. As 2016 draws to an end, @Son_of_Somebody is reminiscing on the experiences of the year and here’s what he has to say: One of the my lowest points of 2016 ….I thought... Read More

dating, heartbreak, life, Love, relationship, The Thread

Ali Toyin Abdul: Diary of a dreamer boy [Nigerian Voices]

by Ali Toyin Abdul My life had been that of awe and grappling confusion. I found myself wobbling in fantasies – of illusion, complacency, and naivety. As a young man, I had been thrown at the crossroads of dilemma, surmounting the bumpy and thorny challenges of life. At age 7, I was growing up into a... Read More

Nigerian Voices

Ali Toyin Abiodun, examinations, JAMB, nigeria, Nigerian Voices, School tales, Success