LIST OF REASONS

In a major crackdown on violent crime, the Delta State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper and recovered a cache of deadly firearms following a series of coordinated raids on criminal hideouts across the state. The operation, carried out by the CP Special Assignment Team, marks a significant step in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and armed robbery in Delta and neighboring states. Intelligence-Led Operation Yields Results   According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, the recent success was the result of credible intelligence and tactical precision. The command which insists on zero-tolerance to violent crime in two separate but significant breakthroughs that revealed a network of criminals terrorising Delta, Rivers, Imo, and Enugu States. One of the key arrests includes 30-year-old Abubakar Hassan, a suspect for kidnapping, who hails from Niger State and who resided in the Woji area of Port Harcourt, Rivers St...

German Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen has confirmed the appointment of Dutch football manager Erik ten Hag as their new head coach. The announcement was made on Monday, May 26, 2025, through the club’s official social media handle, with a statement that read: “Let’s get started. Erik ten Hag signs with Bayer 04 as our new head coach until 2027.” The 55-year-old former Manchester United manager has signed a two-year contract that will see him stay at the BayArena until the end of the 2026/2027 season. Ten Hag enters into the role following the exit of Xabi Alonso, who piloted Leverkusen to notable domestic success before his confirmation as the new manager of Real Madrid. Ten Hag, who was long placed top as the frontrunner for the Leverkusen job, comes with a wealth of managerial experience and tactical expertise to the Bundesliga side. Speaking after his unveiling, he expressed his enthusiasm and optimism about the new challenge ahead. “Bayer Leverkusen is one of the best clubs in...

INTRO: One of the criticisms I held against the 2023 general election in Nigeria was the flouting of INEC's directives on no Permanent Voter's Card (PVC), no voting. I remember vividly how the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu was on the national TV professing no PVC, no voting, while the voters  were in the fields having a field day, voting without PVCs, but just with their Voter Identification Number (VIN). I would later realise that they were able to do it because the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) needs just the VIN and the biometric confirmations to authenticate a Voter, and this means that voting without PVC is not much of electoral infraction except from legal perspectives as the electoral law does not recognise it.  Section 47 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 is quite instructive stating that; “A person attending to vote in an election shall present himself with his voter’s card to a presiding officer for accreditation at the polling unit in the constitu...

INTRO : In an exclusive report obtained by the Punch, over 22,000 Nigerians were  reported by the UK's Home Office to have applied for asylum in the UK since 2010. The report is quite concerning when viewed from the economic lens for many reasons. The bottom line however is the worsening brain drain in the country. In hindsight, Nigeria was plundered with other African countries, and they were stripped of their men and material resources. The horror of history known as slave trade and colonialism still haunt Nigeria till today especially this mass exodus from Nigeria and other related countries. In fact, third world countries' scholars insist that the poor development status of the countries of Africa, Asia and Caribbean is traceable to Europe's invasion and plunder. Material resources were taken in quantum but they are scarcely as devastating as the human resources amassed from the continent.  To be sure, labour is the source of values. It makes fishes in the ocean to be ...

INTRO: The recent appointment of Local Government Area (LGA) administrators by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has sparked legal uproar and intensified political tensions. Though framed as a governance necessity, the move has been widely criticized, contested in court, and viewed as a deepening of the already complex Rivers political crisis. Below are the seven (7) key reasons why these appointments are generating such widespread controversy: 1. Contravention of a Court Order: Perhaps the most glaring issue is that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had already issued an injunction barring Ibas from making such nominations. The interim order, granted on March 28, 2025, explicitly restrained him and his agents from selecting any sole administrators pending a substantive hearing. Ibas engaged persons as LG administrators disregarding this order which has placed him on a collision course with the judiciary and civil society. 2. Exa...

INTRO: The recent visit of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna has stirred political curiosity across Nigeria. Led by the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, the visit came at a time when defections from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are increasing—raising questions about the motive and timing.  Here are seven (7) reasons why this visit is politically significant: 1. Reinforcing Party Unity Amid Defections: The backdrop of the visit includes notable defections—such as former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai—who claimed to have Buhari’s blessing to join the SDP. The APC governors went to see Buhari aiming to present a united front, countering the narrative of a party in disarray and reassuring supporters of continued internal cohesion. 2. Buhari's Symbolic Power as Party Patriarch: Though no longer in office, Muhammadu Buhari remains the only former president pr...

INTRO: Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has reiterated the importance of integrity, accountability, and strategic leadership in the state’s public service, particularly among its top officials. His recent remarks during the opening of a five-day “Strategic Leadership and Management Course” underscore his administration’s commitment to strengthening governance through a competent and responsible civil service. The question here is why does he call for accountability?   The reasons why Governor Dapo Abiodun expects accountability in Ogun State Civil Service matters are:   1. The Civil Service is the Engine of Governance: Governor Abiodun requests accountability acknowledging that the civil service forms the bedrock of public administration. By calling for greater accountability, he recognizes the indispensable role top officials—such as permanent secretaries, general managers, and auditors—play in policy execution and service delivery. Ensuring they uphold integrity is e...

The emergence of Oba Akeem Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo has sparked widespread attention, not only because of the historical significance of the throne but also due to the monarch’s insistence that his ascension was not politically influenced but divinely orchestrated. The compelling reasons drawn from the monarch’s own reflections and the sentiments shared during his thanksgiving service are hereunder discussed.   The reasons why Oba Akeem Owoade’s emergence as Alaafin of Oyo is seen as divine are: 1. Absence of Political Influence: Oba Owoade publicly declared that he had never met Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State or former Senator Monsurat Sunmonu prior to his selection. This revelation counters public assumptions of political endorsement and underscores the purity and neutrality of his emergence. 2. Lack of Desperation or Manipulation: In his own words, the new Alaafin confessed that he was neither desperate nor scheming for the throne. This lack of ambition or b...

INTRO: On April 9, 2025, workers at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO) in Owo, Ondo State, commenced an indefinite strike over unresolved salary and welfare issues. The strike, led by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), is a clear expression of mounting frustration over prolonged neglect by the Ondo State Government.  The reasons why workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic are on strike are: 1. Non-Payment of Six (6) Months’ Salaries: One of the most pressing reasons for the strike is the accumulation of unpaid salaries. The workers revealed they are owed six months’ wages, a situation that has plunged many into financial hardship. During their protest, placards with inscriptions like “We are hungry, pay our six months’ salaries” captured the intensity of their grievance and the dire living conditions many now face. 2. Failure to Implement the National Minimum Wage: Despite a nationwide policy on t...

INTRO : The recent criticism by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) over Nigeria’s continued ban on 25 categories of imported goods has stirred fresh conversations around trade relations between both nations. The U.S. expressed displeasure over Nigeria’s protectionist policies, especially after President Donald Trump imposed a 14% duty on Nigerian goods entering the U.S. The USTR cited several concerns over how these bans negatively affect American exports and bilateral trade.    The reasons why the U.S. criticised Nigeria’s import ban on agricultural and pharmaceutical goods are: 1. Restricted Market Access for U.S. Exporters: The USTR emphasized that Nigeria’s ban on key product categories — including beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, and medicaments — has severely limited access to one of Africa’s largest consumer markets. American exporters see Nigeria as a growing economy with significant trade potential, but the restrictions are seen as a direct barrier t...