By Bolanle Bolawole.

When two elephants fight, the grass, they say, suffers. But when cabals fight, and fight dirty like the NNPC and Aliko Dangote are doing, what happens? Dogs eat dogs and chickens gnaw at each other’s intestines. Can of worms explode in the open and cupboards full of skeletons, hitherto securely locked, are forced open. For instance, Dangote alleged that his refinery was being sabotaged by oil cabals bent on the continued importation of refined petroleum products. NNPC countered that the said refinery was not yet completed and certified and that its products were inferior to imported stuff. Dangote has fired back with his Malta oil-blending allegation to support his claim that well-heeled personalities want to continue to make a killing with fuel importation at the expense of hapless Nigerians. Understandably, the stakes are high. A single write-up cannot perfectly put all the pieces together. Call it a maze, labyrinth or jig-saw puzzle and you will be right. So, here today, we take a look at some of the information available and allow our readers a better understanding of the issues at stake.

• * He Shouldn’t Give Up

By C. Don Adinuba

No patriotic Nigerian should be delighted at the grave challenges facing the 650 barrels per day Dangote Refinery in Lagos. The challenges make efficient operations very difficult. Though Nigeria is a major oil exporter, the refinery commissioned early last year is now compelled to import crude from Brazil. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA) has accused it of producing substandard automative gas oil (AGO), and, worse, of having no licence for operation.

By Bola Bolawole

In “Finding long-lasting solutions to Nigeria’s woes”published on 11 June, 2024, I commented on a post sent to me by a comrade and classmate at “Great Ife”, Wale Olajire Ajao, titled “The role of the public space in a democracy” In it, I disagreed with Wale that critics do not necessarily have to offer suggestions; the role of defending the government, he said, rests squarely on the shoulders of the public relations managers of the government. Today, I am honouring my pledge to publish Wale’s treatise in full (with little editing because of space constraints) and to further explain why I disagree with some of his views. Read on:

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

Does Senator Ali Ndume, former Senate Chief Whip, lack table manners, or those he was eating with thought that enjoyment would immunise him against the anger and hunger in the land? Ndume did nothing extraordinary in pointing out that while they feast, compatriots cannot get crumbs.

By Azu Ishiekwene

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is not a stranger to adversity or its more sinister cousin, sabotage.

By Kazie Uko

I am certain that neither the civil servants nor other public and private sector workers, traders and artisans in Abia State will join the march to protest the ravaging hunger in the land across Nigeria.

By Sam Nwaobasi

4th of August, 2011 was a Thursday. I had gone to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to see the SGF on the directive of my benefactor, Sen. Ken Nnamani. Before I was ushered in to see the SGF, his then secretary, whom everybody called ‘Auty Kate’ on hearing my name said to me, “I have a letter for you”. I walked up to her table and she opened a big notebook and asked me to sign an acknowledgement for the letter. I did and she handed me a fat brown envelope. In a hurry I tore it open. Lo and behold it was my letter of appointment as Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. As I was gazing at the letter with my mouth open, a young man, who I later got to know was the Chief Security Officer to the SGF, Peter Afunanya, opened the door to the office of the SGF. My boss, our boss, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim briefed me on what my responsibilities would be.

By Azu Ishiekwene

A reading of my new book, Writing for Media and Monetising It, will be held on Wednesday, July 24, in Abuja.

By Azu Ishiekwene

The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania has sucked the oxygen from the debate on President Joe Biden’s fitness for a second term. The discussion will resurface, but Democrats should forget it. The party is stuck with Biden.

By Omoniyi Ibietan, Ph.D

Early in July 2005, just a week before Prof. Wole Soyinka turned 71, my boss and mentor, Dapo Olorunyomi, recalled me to Lagos from Port Harcourt, where I was serving as the Regional Media Researcher for Freedom House. Freedom House was founded in 1941 by Eleanor Roosevelt and some other persons. It is America’s oldest non-profit NGO founded to promote and defend democracy and freedom all over the world through the instrumentalities of advocacy, monitoring, and research. Dapo was the Director of Freedom House Nigeria Project, the only one of such in sub-Saharan Africa.

By Walter Duru, Ph.D

The digital age has reshaped how we consume and disseminate information, with online media playing a crucial role in shaping public perception and opinion.

By Azu Ishiekwene

I’ve written this before. Ten years ago, but this man's story is new every time. To me. And to many who have crossed his path. On his 80th birthday on July 14, I’m repeating this story with the zeal and delight I shared it ten years ago: