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Power, privilege and governance – By abiodun KOMOLAFE.

Power, privilege and governance – By abiodun KOMOLAFE.

The concepts of power, privilege and governance are complex and multifaceted. Power refers to the ability to influence others, while privilege denotes unearned advantages. Governance encompasses institutions, structures and processes that regulate these dynamics. Together, these concepts raise fundamental questions about justice, equality and resource distribution. It emphasizes the importance of considering marginalized groups’ experiences and perspectives. The main problem in Nigeria today is its political economy, which is rooted in rent-seeking and fosters a mindset that prioritizes patronage over production. The country’s politics are characterized by a patron-client relationship, where everything revolves around government handouts rather than effective governance.…
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Ekiti’s next leap! – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Ekiti’s next leap! – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

One of the off-cycle elections next year will take place in Ekiti State, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji will face reelection. Oyebanji has several strengths to leverage when campaigning begins, particularly his efforts to redirect the state’s political economy in a positive direction, as widely acknowledged by conventional wisdom. Ekiti State has navigated the current economic transformation in very steady ways. The state’s poverty level is relatively manageable, rather than crippling. The governor’s strategic intervention in agriculture has built up buffers of price-modulating as well as supply-adjustment mechanisms. This approach has effectively withstood economic headwinds, serving as a model that other…
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2027: A crossroads of choice – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

2027: A crossroads of choice – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

We are at midterm, which means that the next electoral cycle has already started. Unfortunately, governance will begin to slow down as politicking and jockeying for advantage become more pronounced, distracting from the real work of administration and the quest to achieve sustainable development. The ruling party currently holds a significant advantage, facing an ill-defined and unfocused array of interest groups lacking cohesion. Unlike parliamentary systems, presidential systems don’t truly have an ‘opposition’ concept. Instead, they offer a focused alternative platform, presenting a distinct and more positive stance than the governing party’s. It sums it all that, within the reality…
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Abaribe Denies Threat to Shut Down National Assembly Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention

Abaribe Denies Threat to Shut Down National Assembly Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has denied reports claiming he threatened to shut down the National Assembly unless President Bola Tinubu secures the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). A viral statement alleged that Abaribe staged a protest at the National Assembly, wielding a placard and blocking access roads, but he dismissed this as false and deliberately crafted to sabotage efforts to secure Kanu's release. Abaribe, through his media aide Uchenna Awom, stated that he wasn't even in Abuja at the time of the alleged incident. He clarified that he had left Abuja for an…
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Akpoti-Uduaghan and the emerging controversies – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Akpoti-Uduaghan and the emerging controversies – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, stemming from her allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of office against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, reveals a deeper issue within Nigeria's political system. This incident, among others, raises questions about Nigeria's claim to being a republic, as it exhibits characteristics of a feudal system, where social and economic relationships are defined by patron-client attachments.  In the case of the senate president, a lot has been revealed about the misogynistic nature of much of the Nigerian state. This issue has persisted for more than half a century, resulting in numerous allegations…
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