Category: Columnist
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Pope Francis, our father, gone to Heaven – By Owei Lakemfa
The ascendancy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, to the papacy was a trinity of sorts. It was historic, prophetic and redeeming. For 1,272 years, the papacy was occupied by Europeans only, especially the Italians. Some even joked about the Italian Mafia at work. Indeed, some mafia might at various stages been at work.
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Waiting for an African Pope – Azu Ishiekwene
It’s nothing to laugh off, however tempting. If the movies imitate life, we may not be as far away from an African pope. It happened in The Conclave, a film by Peter Straughan released in 2024, based on the novel by Robert Harris.
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Nigerians served peculiar mess, a la carte – By Owei Lakemfa
Adelabu Adegoke was one of the most flamboyant and charismatic politicians in pre-independence Nigeria. When one day, the press asked him about deliberations in the Western Region House of Assembly, he replied that it was a “peculiar mess”. He pronounced the words with a Yoruba intonation making the two words sound like “Penkelemesi”. So, his…
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Seven world most corrupt leaders – A Nigerian made the list
A corrupt leader is someone in a position of authority who uses their influence for unlawful or unethical personal benefit. Transparency International released a damning list in their Global Corruption Report, ranking the most corrupt
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Choices, not chance: Why China is rich, and Nigeria is poor – By Dakuku Peterside
China and Nigeria, two continental giants that entered the late 1970s with similar per capita incomes, have since taken opposite economic trajectories. In China, the decisive moment was Deng Xiaoping’s 1978 decision to “open the windows” and let the world’s capital know-how to blow in. In Nigeria, the same decade
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Udenwa’s indictment of politicians, blame of PDP’s woes on APC – By Ehichioya Ezomon
Recently, the seemingly urbane and easy-going former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa (1999-2007), chewed two issues at the same time: Nigerian politicians’ propensity to buying their way into elective office; and alleged interference of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the affairs of the opposition, principally the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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The mind of Christ (2) – By Femi Aribisala
Paul is the chief exponent in the scriptures of the imperative to have the mind of Christ. He taught what he lived, so we have him as our chief example. Paul teaches that: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
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Two hundred years after: The evil French freedom tax on Haiti – By Owei Lakemfa
It was a day of mourning. Thursday, April 17, 2025 was exactly 200 years France imposed an evil tax on Haiti for daring to stop slavery and securing its independence. Haiti, until today, is in deep crises mainly due to the debilitating effects of that criminal tax and, interferences by Europe and the United States, US.
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Absent from Abuja, Present in Paris – By Chidi Amuta
The Nigerian political opposition is scoring desired attention from the Tinubu’s disappearing antics. In apparent response to the growing outcry of opposition voices and the enlightened citizenry about the President’s prolonged absence in a bad time, the Presidency has just issued a second statement explaining
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Ponzi schemes: Our mumu never do? – By Francis Ewherido
In 1980 or 1981, I learnt a very important lesson that shaped my life. My father had given me “pocket money” and money for provisions for the new term. My brother, Ufuoma, escorted me to Igbudu Market, Warri, Delta State, to buy provisions. When we got to the market, we saw women doing “try your…