“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters”—  Antonio Gramsci I recall vividly that I was in New York City when Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were locked in their historic contest for the American presidency in 2016. Within diplomatic circles, media houses, academic institutions, […]

“No longer anything but a decoration which is useful for nothing”—  Paul Cambon  The withering description of a once-revered political figure in France by the diplomat Paul Cambon, applies with equal or perhaps greater force, to the state of politics in Nigeria today. Even objects of decoration, no matter how worthless, may still retain some redeeming […]

“All things are possible in politics”— Douglas Reed After two weeks of examining the language and practice of loyalty in Nigerian politics, one conclusion stands out with unsettling clarity: the phrase “I remain loyal” has become both a confession and an indictment. It confesses the fragility of conviction in our political culture and indictes a system […]

“When self interest comes into play, things get stagnant“—  Japanese proverb There are few commodities as endlessly traded in Nigeria’s political bazaar as “loyalty.” It is advertised with solemn speeches, sold in exchange for appointments, and withdrawn without notice when the market price falls. Loyalty in our politics has become so portable, so negotiable, and so […]

“Warnings are vain, the printed word is futile, experience teaches no lessons”“-  Douglas Reed There are certain phrases that never die in Nigerian politics. They reappear like clockwork at critical moments, uttered with solemnity and flourish, yet met with skepticism by the public. Chief among them is the oft-repeated line: “I remain loyal.” It is spoken […]