By Bola Bolawole

Generally-speaking, the traditional rulers of today have, in many respects, lost the mystical or spiritual powers associated with their fore-fathers or ancestors. And this is not restricted to traditional rulers; there is hardly anyone, family or institution that has not lost something. We are all not as “powerful” as our forebears.

By Funke Egbemode

Patty was in pain, deep searing pain. She was not supposed to be in this place, end up at this sorry pass. She gave Alhaji her all, the relationship her everything. Relationship? Was what they had even worth calling a relationship because looking back from her balcony of grief, all she could see now was a one-winged flight that eventually crashed spectacularly. The pain wracking her body and soul was made worse by the feeling of foolishness. You know how you feel when you finally realised you’ve been used, had, taken advantage of and you allowed it all happen, with your eyes wide open.

• * 'A Victim Of Vicious Political Witch-hunt'

By Steve Osuji

HUNTING FOR EVIDENCE AFTER DETENTION:

It’s exactly 100 days today since he has been under President Bola Tinubu’s supervised detention. On the 10th of June, former CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele was literally abducted from his Ikoyi, Lagos home by men of the Department of State Services, DSS, and chaperoned to Abuja, handcuffs and all.

By Bola Bolawole

The Yoruba traditional institution and the Obas and Chiefs that perch on it are no longer what they used to be in terms of effective power and royal – even regal – bearing and esteem. In those days, an Oba is someone who sits (perches) atop everything (O ba l'ori ohungbogbo). He bore effective rule but today he only reigns. He has no effective powers, not even over those that are still referred to as his “subjects” In the real sense, Yoruba Obas have no subjects anymore; everyone is now a citizen with equal rights and privileges as the Oba himself, and those rights must be respected by all, the Oba inclusive. Any Oba that breaches the rights of a citizen will face the wrath of the law.

(A Letter To President Tinubu)

By

Enajite Enajero, Ph.D.

His Excellency

Bola Ahmed Tinubu President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Dear Mr. President,

I must first congratulate you for becoming the President of Nigeria. Nigeria is faced with so many challenges. The problem facing Nigeria is not only that of reducing poverty, but also that of saving a chunk of humanity by creating the capacity to coalesce the most populous Black Country into the comity of developed nations.

By Bolanle Bolawole

A saying of our people is that 20 children cannot pull or play together for 20 unbroken years. This is not because they may not be willing to do so but because circumstances beyond their control will compel them to do otherwise. Many strings will put them apart and they will go in different directions whether they like it or not.

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

Everyday, something happens that changes Nigeria, even if all it offers is more despondency. The passing of 27-year-old musician, Mohbad, makes the point again that Nigeria is a great example for changes that would not result in development.

By Bolanle Bolawole

The earthquake in Morocco, which killed thousands and left many more homeless, led me to ask questions. About the same time, floods in neighbouring Libya also reportedly killed its own thousands, leaving many more homeless.

By Emeka Obasi

Green Eagles were good enough for a first African Nations Cup gold at Ethiopia 1976. It was their second time, after a disastrous debut in Ghana thirteen years earlier. From Group B, Dire Dawa, they left Addis Ababa with the bronze.

By Steve Osuji

AN IMPOSTER AND USURPER:

Once upon a time in a faraway land, there lived a king who hijacked the stool. It happened that the throne was vacant and all the heirs began to joust for the grand stool. A particular parvenu in the land who had no known link to royalty nor to the kingdom for that matter, jumped into the ring.

By Funke Egbemode

Tunji – T.J for short- had always seen a bright future for himself in Nigeria. Not even SAPA could make him JAPA. He knew where he wanted to go and had a map even Google would be proud of, of how he’d get to his destination. So, while all his friends and peers were testing the waters of cybercrime and considering yahoo-plus and its gory gruesome details, T.J had his eyes peeled for how he’d move from his ‘near Lagos’ Boys Quarters’ apartment to Ikoyi, Lagos. Yes, you heard that right; from extreme poverty to the five-star neighbourhood. How? He was going to find himself a rich man with a single-and searching daughter. Lucky T.J, he got both in one fell swoop. He found both a rich man and his single-and searching daughter.