Opinions

9Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Makinde: Between Presidential Ambition and the Rhetoric of Desperate Opposition By Alaba Abdulrazak

In democratic governance, the measure of a statesman lies in institutional consistency; yet the latest manoeuvres by Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, lay bare how easily substantive reform is sacrificed on the altar of political hypocrisy and opportunism. Caught in the throes of an intensive presidential ambition, Governor Seyi Makinde has increasingly resorted to a strategy of systematically de-marketing President Bola Tinubu’s administration. However, in doing so, he has inadvertently laid bare the pattern of administrative desperation and stark ignorance that characterises his own tenure in Oyo State. The Governor perfectly exemplifies the classic Yoruba proverb, “Èpà ńpa ara rẹ̀, ó ní òun ńp’ajá”—the dog tick destroys itself, yet boasts that it is killing the dog. Makinde...

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30Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Why Sulaimon Olanrewaju’s Anti-Alli Diatribe Collapses Under Empirical Scrutiny By Alaba Abdulrazak

It is a well-worn axiom in political communications that when a hired pen cannot intellectually elevate his patron’s chosen puppet, he must resort to fabricating deficiencies in the frontrunner. This is the tragic, theatrical trap into which our own Oga Sulaimon Olanrewaju has found himself. In his recent commentary, “Adekanmbi vs Alli: Between substance and sensationalism,” Oga Olanrewaju attempts an architectural feat of grand delusion: inventing a narrative of “emptiness” around Senator Sharafadeen Alli, whilst clumsily attempting to construct a statesman out of thin air. The ultimate objective is clear: to satisfy the overblown ego of an executive paymaster desperate to install an obedient, malleable surrogate in the Agodi Government House come 2027. Oga Olanrewaju’s central ...

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19Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Makinde vs Alli: Ignorance or Political Desperation? By Alaba Abdulrazak

In the theatre of Nigerian politics, public utterances often reveal more about the speaker than the intended target. Recent remarks by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, directed at Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, serve as a textbook case of political anxiety masquerading as superiority. By mockingly dismissing Senator Alli as a lawyer who had "never entered a courtroom", the governor did not just miss the mark; he exposed a profound ignorance regarding how modern leadership, corporate governance, and statecraft actually function. To measure the value of a legal education solely by the number of briefs argued before a judge is an astonishingly narrow worldview.History and contemporary reality are replete with individuals who acquired legal training, chose never to practice i...

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24Jul By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Primate Ayodele’s Prophetic Heresy Against Senator Alli By Alaba Abdulrazak

There is a disturbing, almost sacrilegious arrogance that now characterises the Nigerian prophetic marketplace. In an era where spiritual leadership ought to serve as a moral compass for the down-trodden, some clerical figures have effectively converted the altar into a political stock exchange. At the absolute vanguard of this theological malpractice is Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church. His recent grandstanding regarding the political future of Oyo State, wherein he categorically decreed that Senator Sharafadeen Alli will never ascend the gubernatorial seat, is not just an exercise in spiritual overreach; it is a masterclass in religious heresy. By consistently uttering predictions with the absolute finality of the Almighty, Ayodele ...

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13Jul By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Oriire Abduction: What Does Seyi Makinde Know? By Alaba Abdulrazak

The recent safe return of thirty-nine pupils and five teachers to Oyo State, after a harrowing fifty-six days in the perilous depths of the Old Oyo National Park, ought to have been a moment of unadulterated national thanksgiving. For the families in Oriire Local Government Area, who endured nearly two months of psychological torment, the sight of their children returning alive is nothing short of a miracle. Yet, the atmosphere in Ibadan during Governor Seyi Makinde’s broadcast was far from celebratory.It was tense, laden with a heavy layer of geopolitical suspicion, and underscored by an unprecedented executive demand. By calling on the United Nations and global human rights apparatuses to launch an independent probe into the May 15 simultaneous assault, Governor Makinde has shatte...

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13Jul By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

The Dangerous Rhetoric of Pastor Odekunle Epaphras By Alaba Abdulrazak

When those entrusted with moral guidance and the welfare of the community lose their focus, they can inadvertently compromise the very societies they are meant to protect. The recent conduct of Pastor Odekunle Epaphras, General Overseer of Comfort Life Mission International, has crossed that line. What began as a troubling claim that Christians, rather than Muslims, are the rightful sacrificers of rams during Eid‑el‑Kabir—has metastasised into a series of reckless, divisive and plainly false pronouncements that threaten social peace and amount to a grotesque abdication of pastoral responsibility. Religion demands humility, restraint, and an appreciation of the fragile pluralism that keeps our streets and neighbourhoods intact. Pastor Epaphras’s public rhetoric fails to meet th...

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2Jul By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

Mockery Of A Nation: From Nwude’s Fake Airport To Tinubu’s Phantom Council By Alaba Abdulrazak

Under the present regime of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria frequently asserts its status as a sophisticated 21st-century polity, yet the recurrent spectacle of institutional grand larceny continuously undermines this self-image. The brewing scandal surrounding the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), exposed on 11 June 2026, presents less of a novel anomaly and more of a contemporary manifestation of a deeply entrenched historical malady. To fully comprehend the audacity of Prince Adeniyi Matthew and the phantom allocation of ₦1.302 billion, one must examine it through the lens of Nigeria’s most infamous precedent: the legendary €242 million advance-fee fraud orchestrated by Emmanuel Nwude in the mid-1990s. Though separated by three decades, both...

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11Jun By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Is Iran Becoming A Superpower Or Merely A Stubborn Persian Gulf State? By Alaba Abdulrazak

Iran’s contemporary narrative is one of profound antiquity colliding with modern geopolitics, an ancient civilisation whose strategic latitude and cultural magnitude evoke a mixture of deference and apprehension. To ponder whether the Islamic Republic is ascending to superpower status or remains merely a recalcitrant regional actor requires weighing symbols of influence against the concrete metrics of state power. What demarcates geopolitical theatre from genuine capability, however, is not merely an inventory of ballistic missiles and strategic alliances, but a deeply ingrained habit of resilience forged through decades of relentless external pressure. Historically, Persia; Iran’s pre-modern iteration projected its hegemony through culture, commerce, and sophisticated statecraft. T...

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1Jun By Rex AyodejiNo Comments

Opinions

IT Cadre Harmonisation: A Defining Moment for Nigeria’s Digital Future

The recent circular issued on the 25th May, 2026 by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, Mni, following the approval of the harmonisation of the schemes of service for Information Communication Technology (IT) roles in the civil service by the National Council on Establishment at its 47th  meeting in Kano last year, marks a watershed moment in Nigeria's digital transformation journey. While the announcement may appear administrative on the surface, its implications extend far beyond the civil service. It represents a strategic recognition that technology is no longer a support function but a critical enabler of governance, economic growth, national security, and public service delivery. For decades, information technology professionals w...

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28Apr By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Oyedele Hakeem Alao: Meet The New Engineer Of Oyo’s Redemption

Here comes a leader who grasps the anguish of Oyo's people: crushed by rampant joblessness, dignity stripped bare, futures eclipsed in a state set adrift. Still, their craving for revival blazes undimmed. "Oyo State is due for redemption," declares Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao (Allow Alao). Launching his APC governorship bid on April 21, 2026, at Ibadan's NUT Resource Centre, Samanda, he charts the path to Oyo 2027 redemption. In a speech brimming with humility and resolve, he launched the "Redemption Mission 2027" – a masterplan to catapult Oyo from stagnation to soaring prosperity. Engr. Alao is no armchair politician. He is a highly cerebral and distinguished engineer with a flawless record of executing transformative projects. He embodies integrity, honouring every pledge to...

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22Apr By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Hammed Muritala’s Fevered Fantasy: Dissecting The Calumny Of A Desperate APC Foot-Soldier By Alaba Abdulrazak

I have read with lively amusement Hammed Muritala’s latest effusion, masquerading as political analysis from a so-called APC member who, driven by visceral hatred for Sharafadeen Alli’s potential emergence as the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State, has decided to commit political harakiri. Such ranting is nothing but a masterclass in calumny and political desperation of Muri and his paymasters. To me, Muri's insolence amounts to a desperate farrago of innuendo and gutter sniping from an APC foot-soldier whose purse strings are gripped more tightly by his paymasters than his hold on facts. People like Muri, who obviously need psychological evaluation, should be referred to the West West Grand of University College Hospital, Ibadan, or Yaba Left in Lagos State for proper eva...

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7Apr By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

Iran War: Is Petrodollar Dominance Coming To An End? By Alaba Abdulrazak

The war now unfolding in and around Iran is doing far more than inflating oil prices and rattling global markets; it is quietly exposing the fragility of the petrodollar itself. For decades, the arrangement has been simple: oil flows out of the Middle East, and dollars flow back in, underpinned by an implicit bargain that the United States would guarantee security and stability for its regional allies. Yet as missiles fall closer to Gulf capitals and the Strait of Hormuz flickers on the edge of disruption, that bargain now looks increasingly outdated—and increasingly fragile. The cracks in the system are not just symbolic; they are structural. With the Strait effectively morphing into a militarised toll‑road, reports suggest that a portion of energy‑linked transactions and even congest...

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28Mar By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Senator Alli, Beaded Crown, And The Baseless Disqualification Charade By Alaba Abdulrazak

Since news of Senator Sharafadeen Alli's likely emergence as the Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for 2027 broke, it has struck like a hurricane, rattling politicians with rival ambitions. In the murky waters of Nigerian politics, where opportunists thrive on half-truths and brazen lies, rivals are now peddling a nasty narrative: that Alli's elevation to a beaded-crown Oba somehow disqualifies him from running for political office. This spurious claim is utter rubbish—a panicked ploy fuelled by envy and devoid of any legal foundation. Whilst this false narrative gains traction, let us cut through the noise with the facts. The recently amended and gazetted Oyo State Chieftaincy Law imposes no electoral ban on beaded chiefs; it is solely about stream...

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18Jan By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

Alaafin Owoade: Time To Shed Imperial Dreams For Oyo’s Revival By Alaba Abdulrazak

Once upon a time, Old Oyo stood as the unassailable colossus of Yorubaland, its influence rippling across vast territories like a thunderclap echoing through the savanna. From the 17th to the early 19th century, the Alaafin wielded power that shaped empires, commanding armies, tribute, and fealty from lesser kingdoms. Yet, hubris and internal strife felled this giant, much like the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan, which sprawled from the Pacific to the Caspian before fragmenting into warring khanates; the Roman Empire, whose overreach crumbled under barbarian incursions and decadent emperors; or the Ottoman behemoth, eroded by nationalist uprisings and European machinations until it vanished after World War I. Great powers rise and recede, history's inexorable tide spares no one. E...

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2Jan By Alaba AbdulrazakNo Comments

Opinions, Top Stories

Makinde And The Odds By Alaba Abdulrazak

In the treacherous arena of Nigerian politics, where self-interest inexorably shapes every stratagem and decision, the escalating supremacy battle between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lays bare the raw calculus of ambition. This is no mere factional squabble; it is a high-stakes rat race fuelled by clashing egos and divergent visions for the future of the party, which once crowned itself as the largest political party in Africa. Makinde, with unyielding tenacity, clings to the PDP's remnants, determined to salvage its viability amid national turbulence. Wike, by contrast, projects an insidious allegiance: his manoeuvres betray a fixation on the party's total annihilation, reducing it to rubble in serv...

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2Nov By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

How The U.S. Can Assist Nigeria Without Military Force By Alaba Abdulrazak

President Trump's recent statements hinting at a possible military intervention in Nigeria should alarm every Nigerian who cherishes sovereignty and peace. The brutal violence sweeping across Nigeria today cannot be entirely attributed to religion. In the web of Nigeria’s insecurity, both Christians and Muslims have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram, bandits, and other criminals tormenting innocent members of the public. It is reckless and misleading to interpret these atrocities through a religious prism. Indeed, many predominantly Muslim communities have endured some of the most savage and merciless massacres in the northeast and even some other states in the North. Those killing their kinsmen in the Southeast are not doing so because of religion but for agitation. Even in the S...

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1Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Nigeria @ 65: The Unfulfilled Dream Of A Giant Amid Corruption And Leadership Failure By Alaba Abdulrazak

Today, October 1, 2025, Nigeria celebrates 65 years of independence. On a day like this, Nigeria ought to be celebrating progress, unity, and nationhood. But alas, the reality is starkly different. Nigeria’s journey since 1960 is marked not by triumphs but by a colossal accumulation of corruption, fiscal mismanagement, and squandered potential. At independence, global analysts predicted four nations poised to emerge as giants among the developed world: China, Brazil, India, and Nigeria. Three of these countries have since defied expectations, achieving remarkable socio-economic transformations. Sadly, Nigeria remains the outlier, shackled by enduring systemic failures. The decisive factor underpinning Nigeria’s stagnation is its human capital deficit. While endowed with abundant nat...

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26Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

The Ascension Of Oba Ladoja: A New Dawn Forged By Destiny In Ibadan By Alaba Abdulrazak

In the venerable chronicles of Ibadanland, few installations to the Olubadan throne have elicited as profound a wave of acceptance, affection, and commendation as the emergence of Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. His ascension transcends a mere customary rite; it represents a significant cultural milestone that resonates deeply within the collective consciousness of the Ibadan people. This unprecedented embrace invites reflection on the forces underpinning such widespread veneration. Are we witnessing the fruition of fate, the invisible hand of destiny, or perhaps the confluence of historical karma and communal aspiration? The magnanimity bestowed upon Oba Ladoja extends beyond his regal lineage or political stature; it embodies the people's yearning for a royal father whose reign wil...

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16Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Charlie Kirk: The Tragedy Of Political Violence And The Danger Of Idolising Hate By Alaba Abdulrazak 

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is no doubt a grave tragedy that must be unequivocally condemned. Political violence, regardless of its target or motivation, is an abhorrent affront to the rule of law and civility. No human life should be extinguished as a consequence of ideological disputes or partisan animosities. Our society must begin by firmly rejecting violence as a form of political expression, standing united against all acts that undermine peace and public safety. Yet, while condemning this senseless act, it is imperative to resist the seductive impulse to elevate Charlie Kirk into a heroic or sanctified political figure. To do so would be a disservice to truth and historical accuracy. Kirk’s public career was characterized by a relentless propagation of racial animus ...

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12Sep By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

Opinions

Dangote, NUPENG, And The Unyielding Tug Of Corporate Survival And Union Rights By Alaba Abdulrazak

The unfolding conflict between Dangote Group and NUPENG epitomizes a broader struggle at the crossroads of corporate survival and workers’ rights within Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Dangote’s strategic acquisition of thousands of CNG trucks to autonomously manage transport of refined products is no doubt a calculated manoeuvre to circumvent union-induced disruptions that have historically crippled fuel supply stability. This tactic, while ostensibly draconian, underscores the harsh realities faced by large corporations contending with the often uncompromising demands of entrenched unions like NUPENG. From Dangote’s vantage point, the decision to restrict his drivers from joining NUPENG is a defensive bulwark designed to shield his sprawling refinery operations from potential paral...

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