Another view on the matter of akara, by Azu Ishiekwene
The feisty debate over First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s comment on akara, roasted corn, and kulikuli, while discussing the Federal Government’s economic programme, is still stirring up a strong aroma, much like the smell of any of these popular local snacks. The thing won’t just go away, especially after her husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, jokingly stirred […]
To catch an election thief, by Azu Ishiekwene
Nigerian elections never end. But the cycle gets into overdrive roughly one year before a fresh general election. This is somewhat understandable. Politicians seeking re-election and those who want to displace them are high on political testosterone. It’s their season of sowing wild oats, casting nets, hosting conclaves, joining covens, and forging alliances for the good, […]
Can we quench the fire that might start in Mali? By Azu Ishiekwene
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger – three rogue states that have formed an Alliance of Sahelian States, AES, to resist external pressure from ECOWAS on military rule – have just won the biggest diplomatic jackpot beyond their wildest imagination. Not even a sorcerer would have guessed that, as a reward for their delinquency, this trio would […]
Yusuf’s Red Cap on Tinubu’s Red Carpet, by Azu Ishiekwene
After months of dallying and endless speculations, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State finally broke ranks with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his in-law, mentor and political godfather. Yusuf had been in Kwankwaso’s shadow for nearly two-and-a-half decades, serving in various roles, including an executive portfolio as commissioner in Kano State, until 2023, when Kwankwaso nominated him as […]
We owe Putin an unreserved apology, by Azu Ishiekwene
As US President Donald J. Trump marks his first year in office by expanding his wish list from making Canada the 51st State of America to seizing and renaming the Panama Canal, and now taking Greenland by any means, if he cannot get the Nobel Peace Prize, spare a thought for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The […]
What you might expect in 2026: A valedictory edition, by Azu Ishiekwene
This seventh edition of my special yearly forecast might be the last. I’ve enjoyed doing it – the hits and the misses – especially the big hits. From twice forecasting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would lose (2019 and 2023, he’ll lose again in 2027), months before the election, to predicting that at least five […]
