Opinions

9Apr By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Generals Without Shame By Moses Oludele Idowu

"It is not titles that honour men but men that honour titles." Niccolo Machiavelli Sometimes in the 1980's or 1990's a troubling fact came to light from a retired army officer based on statistics to the effect that Nigeria has the highest number of retired generals in the world. Much more than Israel, Soviet Union, United States etc., and other nations involved in heavy military combat.I think it was the late Joe Garba who said it but can't remember precisely now. That was about 30 years ago. With the gale of retirements every time government changes baton in the last few years the situation will now be worse.So we have more generals, retired generals than any nation on Earth. But more does not mean better. And it is now time to question the processes by which a person rises to be...

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24Feb By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Babangida’s Book: Don’t Throw The Baby Away With The Bath Water

By ALOY EJIMAKOR Even as it is coming so late in the day, I must commend Babangida for revealing (or finally confirming) the following self-evident truths in his epic Book - ‘A Journey in Service’: First: That the 1966 coup was not an “Igbo coup” but somewhat of a revolution aimed at regime-change and installing Awolowo as the provisional president of Nigeria. In other words, if it could be said that the coup was tactically or covertly geared to foisting ethnic domination, it was going to be a Yoruba domination, not an Igbo domination. Still, whether Igbo domination or Yoruba domination, the counter coup was overtly geared to northern (or far-northern) domination and worse - it midwifed a horrid bloodlust and a total loss of compatriot spirit against the Igbo. Second: That those ...

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29Jan By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Wasiu Ayinde: The Tantrum Of ‘Ganusi’ And The Hubris Of A Music Legend By Alaba Abdulrazak

When discussing indigenous musicians in Nigeria, particularly in the realm of Fuji music, the name Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, known as K1, is indispensable. Although he has superiors, many of his fans—and indeed, he himself—believe that following the death of Fuji music originator Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, he stands as the preeminent figure in the genre. Despite the fact that the Fuji music scene is rife with rivalry and discord, where artists often vie for supremacy, Wasiu Ayinde has firmly established himself as a formidable force within this vibrant musical tradition. For some time now, Wasiu Ayinde has faced criticism from the family of the late Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and fellow Fuji musician Saheed Osupa regarding his attempts to reinterpret the history of Fuji music, a g...

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29Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Setting The Record Straight: Meritocracy And Milestones At NNPC By Femi Soneye

It is important to address the concerns raised in Farooq Kperogi’s recent article, “Tinubu’s Buharisation of the NNPC”, and to clarify some of the misconceptions about the operations and leadership structure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. First, employment, promotions, appointments, and movements of business leaders at the NNPC are not influenced by ethnicity, tribe, religion, or political affiliation. Therefore, decisions within the NNPC are guided strictly by merit, business requirements, and expertise. This approach ensures that only the most qualified and competent individuals occupy positions that are critical to the company’s success. It is significant that our company focuses on efficient and effective service delivery, which is anchored on the com...

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18Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

The FUTA, The FUTATHC, And The Future By Dr Akeredolu O.N.

It’s on record that Nigerian leadership is very careless about the future of our youths in this country. They have their children abroad, enjoying the wealth of the citizens, living large and feeding their lusts while showing lackadaisical attitudes towards the future of the youths. If right-thinking individuals fail to raise their voices for FUTA and the future of its medical students, these promising youths may spend 10 to 12 years in medical school for a programme intended to last 6 years because of preventable occurrences. There is no doubt that Nigeria is battling with serious challenges as a nation. To start with, it’s obvious that we are being ruled by criminals. As Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has rightly said, most of the people ruling the country currently should be in prison; eve...

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10Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

When Will Our President Start Observing Leave in Nigeria? By Alaba Abdulrazak

In the annals of Nigeria’s democratic dispensation, only former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spent his leave of absence at his Ota Farm in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Apart from him, there is no record of any other president observing leave in the country. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who took over from him, spent a significant leave of absence in Saudi Arabia, where he received treatment for pericarditis. He left Nigeria on November 23, 2009, and returned on February 24, 2010, after over three months in a Saudi hospital. His prolonged absence even led to a constitutional crisis and the temporary transfer of powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. Former President Goodluck Jonathan who equally became President after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua also spent his own leave of absence in South Afric...

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1Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Nigeria: Dancing On The Edge Of Destiny

By Olaoluwa Mimiola Nigeria stands as a paradox, endowed with immense natural wealth yet grappling with staggering poverty levels among its populace. The country is blessed with an abundance of resources, including diverse agricultural products, vast oil reserves, and a burgeoning tourism and entertainment industry, all of which hold immense potential for national prosperity. Despite this richness, many Nigerians endure dire economic conditions, raising questions about the effective management and equitable distribution of wealth generated from these resources. The agricultural sector in Nigeria is a significant contributor to both the economy and food security. With favourable climatic conditions and arable land, Nigeria has the potential to become an important player in global agr...

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1Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

FULL TEXT: Tinubu’s Independence Day Speech

Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard. As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon o...

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1Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

Nigeria @ 64: A Nation Grappling With Unfulfilled Potential By Alaba Abdulrazak

In 1960, when Nigeria became independent, the world community clearly stated that four nations would emerge to join the ranks of developed countries like USA and Japan. Those countries mentioned were China, Brazil, India, and Nigeria. Unfortunately, of these countries, only Nigeria has not emerged! The reason is simple—human resources! India, Brazil, and China have all made significant progress, but Nigeria till today is still grappling with unfulfilled potential. Despite being among the richest countries in the world in terms of human and material resources, Nigeria's potential remains unfulfilled. It is understandable that the crucial factor for a nation's greatness is its human element. Unfortunately in Nigeria, human element only comprises of 4% compared to 96% material resource...

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12Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

NNPC Ltd And Challenges In The Oil Sector: Banire Misconceives The Facts, Promotes Biased Views

By Olufemi Soneye In the face of the challenges in the oil sector, particularly the current tightness in the supply of petrol, it has become fashionable to blame the national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd), for everything. Last week, it was Prof. Pat Utomi who railed and fumed at the NNPC Ltd calling it one of the most opaque and unreliable companies in the world. Before then, The Punch had published an editorial in which it described the NNPC Ltd as a danger to Nigeria. The latest of these vitriolic attacks is by Dr. Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and former Commissioner of Transport and Environment, Lagos State, who contended in his column in The Sun that NNPC Ltd is the black hole of Nigeria. Considering all that is going on ...

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28Aug By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

NNPC, Oando And Atiku Abubakar’s Attacks

By Temitope Ajayi By his advanced age and eminent status as a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is by no means qualified to be an elder statesman. Statesmen are highly venerated and revered people to whom we go for advice, guidance and direction. But sometimes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar behaves as if he should be removed from that exclusive club. Or how else can one interpret some of his utterances and statements? Or is the former vice president merely playing politics? But politics should have its season and time and should sometimes give way for nation-building and patriotism. Statesmen are not given to flippancy. Neither are they whimsical. They are measured in words and deeds, a quality that Alhaji Atiku has not demonstrated in public discourse since losing the...

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5Jul By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Samoa Agreement Signed In The Interest Of Nigeria – FG

On 28 June 2024, Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. The partnership agreement is between the EU and its Member States, on one hand, and the members of the OACPS on the other. Negotiations on the agreement started in 2018, on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. It was signed in Apia, Samoa on the 15th of November 2018 by all 27 EU Member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS Member states. The agreement has 103 articles comprising a common foundational compact and three regional protocols, namely: Africa –EU; Caribbean-EU, and Pacific-EU Regional Protocols with each regional protocol addressing the peculiar issues of the regions. The African Regional Protocol cons...

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2May By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Lifestyle, Opinions

Kolawole Akingbade: The Best Man For The Las Vegas Mayoral Job

As the June 11 2024, Las Vegas mayoral election gathers momentum, among the fifteen candidates that will be contesting in the election is a Nigerian-born American businessman and a Man of God, Kolawole Akingbade. Akingbade is no doubt one of the noted of all the candidates that will be participating in the election. While the incumbent independent mayor, Carolyn Goodman will not be seeking re-election as she has used fourth term in office, Kolawole Akingbade looks good to succeed her and take Las Vegas to the next level. As the best man for the job, Kolawole is a smart innovative thinker who has a love for family, people, community, and God. He is forthright, dependable, and known for his exceptional honesty, integrity, and tenacity in not just one area of his life, but all th...

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2Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Tinubu: Embracing Illusion, Ignoring Reality By Alaba Abdulrazak

In the annals of Nigeria's history, no leader either military or civilian that has ever admitted to having failed Nigerians as a leader. But both the military and civilian, all have one thing in common. They see themselves as the messiah of sorts and yet none has set the foundation for our greatness as a Nation not to talk of one that will convey us to the ‘Promised Land’. Unfortunately for us as a Nation, most of these so-called leaders engage in self-deception-hiding the truth from even themselves. In the process, they embrace illusions and ignore reality. By doing this, they deny evidence, logic, or reality and even rationalize choices or behaviours to serve a false narrative. That is why we continue to move in circles in Nigeria. Penultimate week, President Bola Tinubu was quoted...

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16Nov By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Dangote Vs Rabiu: The Business War Of Nigeria’s ‘Robber Barons’ By Alaba Abdulrazak

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a group of wealthy and powerful American businessmen emerged, who were referred to as ‘Robber Barons.’ These individuals played a significant role in shaping the United States' economic and industrial growth, but their methods became a subject of debate during that period. The ‘Robber Barons’ of that period were accused of using unethical methods to monopolize industry and exploit workers. Some of the most famous ‘Robber Barons’ were John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil), Andrew Carnegie (Carnegie Steel), J.P. Morgan (finance), and Cornelius Vanderbilt (shipping and railroads). Other notable individuals identified as ‘Robber Barons’ were William A. Clark (copper), James Dunsmuir (coal, lumber), Marshall Field (retail), William Randolph Hear...

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30Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

Read Full Text Of Atiku’s Press Conference On Supreme Court’s Verdict

Being text of a World Press Conference on the Presidential Election Petition Judgment by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Waziri Adamawa, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 Election, at the PDP Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, 30th October, 2023. Protocol. Gentlemen of the Press. Someone asked me what I would do if I lost my election petition appeal at the Supreme Court. In response, I said that as long as Nigeria wins, the struggle would have been worth the while. By that, I meant that the bigger loss would not be mine but Nigeria’s if the Supreme Court legitimizes illegality, including forgery, identity theft, and perjury. If the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, implies by its judgment that crime is goo...

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1Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Full Text Of President Tinubu’s Independence Day Speech

Dear Compatriots,It is my unique honour to address you on this day, the 63rd anniversary of our nation’s independence, both as the President of our dear country and, simply, as a fellow Nigerian. 2.On this solemn yet hopeful day, let us commend our founding fathers and mothers. Without them, there would be no modern Nigeria. From the fading embers of colonialism, their activism, dedication and leadership gave life to the belief in Nigeria as a sovereign and independent nation. Let us, at this very moment, affirm that, as Nigerians, we are all endowed with the sacred rights and individual gifts that God has bestowed on us as a nation and as human beings. No one is greater or lesser than the other. The triumphs that Nigeria has achieved shall define us.The travails we have endured ...

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9Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Ogun LG Funds Allocation: The Facts And Figures As Against Fallacy

By Funmi Branco LOVERS of democracy and good governance must be troubled by the crisis in Ogun State over local government allocations. When the chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Hon. Wale Adedayo, accused the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, of diverting local government (LG) funds, there were not a few Nigerians who felt outraged because the allegation was such a weighty, damning one, and it is a fact that state governments had often been accused of strangulating local governments in the country. And so, naturally, many commentators hailed Adedayo for drawing attention to what they thought was the haemorrhage going on in Ogun State. However, as they waited for evidence proving the governor’s guilt, they got none. Instead, evidence from all quarters showed that the now...

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7Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Tinubu Hails Victory At Tribunal, Wants Obi, Atiku Support

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, assured Nigerians of his renewed and energised focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation, following the judgment by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja. President Tinubu welcomes the judgment of the tribunal with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities. The president recognises the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law. The president affirms that his commitment to the rule of law, and the unhindered discharge of duties by the Tribunal, as witnessed in the panel’s exclus...

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30Aug By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Chief (Dr) Kolawole Adewoyin: Celebrating An Astute Entrepreneur, A Philanthropist At 63

If we're talking about natural born leaders, we are referring to individuals who possess innate qualities that make them effective as leaders. While some people believe that leaders are born with these qualities, others believe that leadership can be developed through hard work, experience and determination. One of the few individuals that God has blessed with both talents is Chief (Dr) Kolawole Adewoyin. Chief Adewoyin born 63 years is no doubt a natural born leader who has also developed himself through hard work, experience and determination. Today, he is one of the most noted of his contemporaries who has built a network of successful businesses in Ibadan, Oyo, Lagos, Abuja and other states in Nigeria. Chief (Dr) Kolawole Adewoyin, who is the new Asiwaju General Ona Mogba of ...

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