Abiodun KOMOLAFE Archives - Page 9 of 10

Sep

19

2024

Beyond the barrel: The tourism imperative (2) By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Column, Lifestyle, Metro, NewsAbiodun KOMOLAFE, Opinion

According to the World Tourism Organization, tourism generates over $1 trillion in exports annually, creating millions of jobs and stimulating local economies. Be that as it may, it is important to note that Nigeria’s vast growth and development opportunities are being overlooked due to a lack of vision and self-centeredness on the part of its successive leaders, ultimately hindering the greater good and benefiting only a privileged few. This issue pervades all levels of government, from state to local, with authorities neglecting their duties to harness the potential of natural attractions for promotion and development. The plight of Erin Ijesa…

Sep

07

2024

By Amos Oge Kalu

Beyond the barrel: The tourism imperative (1) – By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Business, Column, Economy, Lifestyle, Metro, News, OpinionAbiodun KOMOLAFE, Business, Economy, Nigeria, Opinion

Nigeria is at the moment in a precarious position, teetering like a heavy toddler due to the instability of its monocrop economy. The country’s heavy dependence on crude (not even refined) petroleum exports exposes a cumulative effect of defective political economies and the complacency of the ruling elite “who have been trained as to how not to think”. It also reminds one of the stage-like observations of Robert Nester Marley, that “in the midst of water, the fool goes thirsty”. Nigeria's reliance on oil can be diversified, but the elite's mindset stands in the way. A notable example is Mexico's…

Aug

17

2024

By Amos Oge Kalu

Nigeria’s forgotten poor! By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Column, Metro, News, OpinionAbiodun KOMOLAFE, Metro, Nigeria, Opinion

“I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens”. These were the words of President Bola Tinubu in a broadcast to the nation on the now-suspended #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. Among other things, the protests have highlighted the plight of Nigeria's forgotten poor, who are not just passive bystanders but active voices demanding change. The brief nature of this outcry finds its flow in the poor’s ability to sustain their demands and hold their…

Aug

03

2024

By Amos Oge Kalu

Endorsements and the power-brokers (2)

Column, Metro, News, Opinion, PoliticsAbiodun KOMOLAFE, Nigeria, Politics

By abiodun KOMOLAFE Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello endorsed candidates, leveraging their influence and reputation. Awolowo reportedly supported Joseph Fadahunsi (1960), Ayo Akinsanya (1960) and Adekunle Ajasin (1979). Azikiwe backed Michael Okpara (1960), C. C. Onyia (1963) and Chukwuemeka Ojukwu (1966) while Ahamadu Bello endorsed Tafawa Abubakar Balewa (1959), Kashim Ibrahim (1962) and Usman Faruk (1985). Their endorsements carried weight due to regional influence, party leadership, national stature and grassroots connections. Awolowo’s vast network and loyal following could make or break candidates, boost credibility, mobilize support, shape party decisions and impact electoral outcomes. By embracing the power of…

May

26

2024

By Amos Oge Kalu

Democracy, governance and credible elections (2)

Column, Metro, News, Politics2027, Abiodun KOMOLAFE, Next Level, Opinion

By abiodun KOMOLAFE Let’s come to the issues of recruitment and selection. All over the world, leadership is what changes history. Think of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, led by leftist revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, aka, Vladimir Lenin, and come to terms with the fact that followership are just extras in a movie! Or, was it ‘the people’ or a determined leadership comprising few people like Awolowo, who made the deserved changes during the Action Group days? Was it ‘the people’ who built Ghana’s Volta Dam as a testimony of tenacity and human courage for which Kwame Nkrumah was ultimately…