The Onnoghen case and other stories - Reuben Abati 

I find it incredulous that a ruling government that seeks a second term in office and about which doubts have been expressed with regard to its performance, the competence of...

[Opinion] The Obasanjo Bombshell - Reuben Abati 

“Former President Obasanjo is a courageous patriot and statesman who tells truth to power when he is convinced leaders are doing wrong” – Muhammadu Buhari, March 4, 2015. “Buhari is...

[Opinion] The Assault on Daily Trust - reuben Abati 

On Sunday, January 6, a combined team of the Nigeria Army and Nigeria Police stormed the offices of the Daily Trustnewspaper in Maiduguri, Abuja and Lagos. They disrupted the newspaper’s...

Politics: My Baptism of Fire - Reuben Abati 

It was about 6.00 am when I heard knocks on the gate. It was as if someone wanted to bring down the gate to the house. Gba! Gba! Gba! Gbaga,...

Iya Kabiru and Other Stories - Reuben Abati

“Transition Hours”: President Jonathan writes back - Reuben Abati 

[OPINION] Anthony Anenih: A personal and political portrait - Reuben Abati

Anthony Anenih, the political leader, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party who has died aged 85, was one of the most important figures in the story of Nigeria’s return to...

[OPINION] The Spirit of the Jews in Squirrel Hill - Reuben Abati

What was assaulted in Squirrel view, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States on Saturday, October 27, was not just the 11 persons that died and the six injured, or strictly the Jewish...

[OPINION]: Beyond Fayose: The future of Ekiti - Reuben Abati

I spent the better part of last Tuesday, October 16, focusing on developments in Ekiti State. It was the day of John Kayode Fayemi’s return to office as Governor of...

[OPINION]: The Persecution of Ike Ekweremadu - Reuben Abati

While writing the piece above, I kept receiving on my phone what’s app messages attacking Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. I am sure other Nigerians would have received the same...

[OPINION] 2019: Atiku vs. Buhari - Reuben Abati

There has been some clarity about Nigeria’s 2019 Presidential election, with the end of the October 7 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of...

[OPINION]: Ambode vs. Tinubu - Reuben Abati

After two postponements, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party’s Governorship Primary will hopefully hold at last, in Lagos today, October 2. The Godfather of Lagos APC politics, if you are...

[OPINION] Lessons from Adeosungate - Reuben Abati

Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance (2015-2018), Kemi Adeosun threw in her letter of resignation on Friday, September 14, to bring to a temporary closure, the public outcry and the embarrassment...

[OPINION] 2019: A brief manual of Nigerian politics - Reuben Abati

The political primaries are scheduled to hold between this month and the next and definitely by the end of October 2018, the hustling and jostling in Nigeria’s political arena would...

Rule of Law: The President got it wrong - Reuben Abati

It is unfortunate that the most important statement made so far at the on-going Annual Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association, an outright derogation of the supremacy of the rule...

[OPINION]: A Dry Sallah And Other Stories - Reuben Abati

“Baba is back, we thank God” “You have started your mischief again. Baba said he will be back in two weeks, and he is back, so what is special about...

[OPINION] The Asaba disgrace - Reuben Abati

“I think this is the first and last time I will come to Nigeria to compete. If you are not ready to organise something please don’t…It was three days of...

[OPINION]: Understanding APC and the crisis of defections - Reuben Abati

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the “factional” leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly asked Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki to resign his position as Senate President. What exactly...

[OPINION]: Ekiti election: A few words- Reuben Abati

I have up until this moment resisted the temptation to comment on the just concluded gubernatorial elections in Ekiti state for the simple reason that the more the facts of...

[OPINION]: Dasuki’s bail and the Attorney General - Reuben Abati

It is more than two weeks now since His Lordship Justice Ijeoma L. Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave clear, positive and unambiguous orders in the matter between...

[OPINION]: The Adebayo Adedeji example - Reuben Abati

Professor Adebayo Adedeji, the towering intellectual, scholar, pan-Africanist, international civil servant and pioneer Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Under-Secretary General of the United...

[OPINION]: In defence of the Fulani in our midst - Reuben Abati

State of the nation: In the last two weeks, over 200 persons in Plateau state were reportedly killed by Fulani herdsmen, 45 villages were ransacked and sacked and those villages...

[OPINION]: ‘Just do good’: A June 12 story - Reuben Abati

I used to have a friend we called Alhaji Bashy. He was not a Muslim. No. But he called himself Alhaji Bashy, even if that was not his real name....

[OPINION]: Buhari and the June 12 saga - Reuben Abati

There are three aspects - the strategic, the political and the legal - to the Federal Government’s decision to replace May 29 with June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, and...

[OPINION]: The impending implosion of APC - Reuben Abati

Just take the phrase: “impending” in the title above with a pinch of salt. I use the word because in politics as in life, things happen - as seemingly absolute...

[Opinion]: 2019 and the politics of campaign finance - Reuben Abati

Each Governor was reportedly asked by the ruling APC party to bring N250 million ahead of the party’s National Convention. When the public protested, recently, the party disclaimed the news...

[Opinion]: 2019: Nigeria’s emerging political leaders - Reuben Abati

A strong indication of both the quality and failure of politics in Nigeria, as the people look forward to the next general elections in 2019, is the manner in which...

Section 5 and the Mohammed Bello Adoke case - Reuben Abati

His Lordship Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory last Friday, gave an instructive, landmark judgment in the matter between Mohammed Bello Adoke...

[OPINION]: Bill Gates as “a wailing wailer” - Reuben Abati

“I do not enjoy speaking to you this bluntly when you have been gracious enough to invite me here…” – Bill Gates. Mr. Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, friend of Nigeria...

[OPINION]: Nigeria, ECOWAS and the Morocco question - Reuben Abati

I was in Morocco recently, about 20 years after I last visited Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Laayoune. I was quite impressed to see how Morocco with its colour-coded cities remains...

[OPINION]: Lagos state and the politics of taxation - Reuben Abati

The government of Lagos state seems to be currently in the eye of the storm over its introduction of a law, a property tax as it were, known as the...

[OPINION]: Africa: A continent without democrats - Reuben Abati

The second wave of democratization in Africa, beginning in the 80s, and the gradual establishment of democracy as the new normal in the continent brought much hope and excitement. As...

To NatGeo: A story idea on Nigerian animals - Reuben Abati

Dear Editor, NatGeo, I am a great fan of your magazine, National Geographic, and your sister platform, National Geo Wild, and your coverage of natural history, particularly the behaviour of...

Of drowning men and national security - Reuben Abati

Jimoh Moshood, the current Police Public Relations officer in Abuja is probably the most unprofessional occupier of that office since 1999. His lack of professionalism and ready capacity to perpetually...

Aisha Buhari: The critic in the other room - Reuben Abati

Mrs Aisha M. Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari is probably the most loved person in Nigeria today, especially by critics of her husband’s administration. She first came to...

The season of recanting - Reuben Abati

“I wish I could travel to the US right now” “Why? Why not wait till summer time?”“No, I feel like going there physically to tell President Donald Trump exactly how...

Liberia: The Rise of George Weah - Reuben Abati

George Weah’s emergence as Liberia’s President-elect after the December 26 run-off election generated considerable interest among Nigerians for a number of reasons. Number one is George Weah’s popularity. The first...

Olusegun Obasanjo, Ph.D - Reuben Abati

Perhaps in the long run, the most remarkable legacy of the Nigerian leader known as Olusegun Obasanjo would be his personal example, in terms of the manner in which he...

A nation of believers - Femi Fani-Kayode

In both 2008 and 2012, I warned the world and particularly Africa and the Middle East about the evil of Barack Obama. No-one listened. In 2011, I warned the world...

Atiku, ‘Atikulation’ and other stories - Reuben Abati

“I hear say Atiku don port oh, from APC to God knows where…”“He used to be a Customs officer. Going from one port to another should not be an issue...

Buhari and the allegation of Northernization - Reuben Abati

Perhaps the biggest news this week so far, has been the attempt by the Presidency to debunk the allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari has been kinder to Northerners and Muslims...

The monkey business they call governance - Reuben Abati

“Have you gone to visit your brother in Ekiti?”“Who is that? I have many brothers from Ekiti state”“The Governor. Osokomole himself, ekun oko oke, the dainty irunmole who eats jollof...

Okorocha and Jacob Zuma’s statue - Reuben Abati

What is it about South African President Jacob Zuma and statues? Two statues in one month- generating controversy from the streets of Pretoria to the streets of Owerri in Nigeria....

Kachikwu, Baru and the NNPC debacle - Reuben Abati

The current NNPC debacle is probably the most embarrassing, even if mercifully, eye-opening crisis in the history of that nationally strategic institution since its creation in 1977. I seek in...

Court proscribes IPOB

The Federal High Court in Abuja has given a judicial backing to the executive order of President Muhammadu Buhari, outlawing the Indeginous People of Biafra and its activities. The Acting...

The Python does not dance… - Reuben Abati

Operation code-names have been an important part of military operations since the Germans first applied them in World War 1 but it may be said that the recent (or ongoing?)...

JAMB and the politics of cut-off marks - Reuben Abati

I have followed with keen interest the controversy over the announcement of cut-off marks for Nigeria’s admission processes for the 2017/2018 session, with many commentators and the general public insisting...

Buhari resumes old habits in days since return - Reuters

President Muhammadu Buhari has kept a low profile since his grand return from sick leave on Saturday. Buhari disembarked his plane in Abuja on Saturday to a military salute and...

Buhari’s reunion with his media team - Reuben Abati

I was really excited on Saturday when I received news of the eventual visit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team to him in London. I had always felt that the...

Osinbajo’s vision and the climate of fear - Reuben Abati

“Where have you been?”“I have been around”“I was just wondering why you have not said anything since the Acting President proclaimed that those of you who are asking for the...

Floods and the rainmakers of Lagos Island - Reuben Abati

“To live in Lagos Island, these days, one needs to engage the services of rainmakers during the rainy season”, a friend who lives in that part of Lagos told me...

PDP: A lifeline from the Supreme Court - Reuben Abati

On Wednesday, July 12, the Supreme Court saved our democracy and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). It did with its ruling in the matter between Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed...

AfDB President, Adesina, wins prestigious World Food Prize- Reuben Abati

The President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has emerged the winner of the prestigious World Food Prize,...

Buhari and the Hausa language -Reuben Abati

“Baba just fall my hand! Ha, wetin.” “Which Baba?” “Baba Bubu, the President of all Nigeria.” “In the spirit of this season, may Almighty Allah (SAW) grant him good health...

Two years of change - Reuben Abati

“How is it going my brother?" “We just dey look. Two years and we thank God.” “How was your May 29?” “There was no celebration. We just siddon dey look.”...

Democracy, Biafra and a sense of history - Reuben Abati

It is sad that many Nigerians today talk glibly about the possibility of a coup or of military intervention in politics. They make it seem as if this democracy is...

The 82 Chibok Girls and other stories - Reuben Abati

“E ku amojuba awon 82 Chibok girls, o” “What is that supposed to mean in plain English? You better watch your tongue. It will be politically incorrect and suicidal to...

In defence of Titilayo Momoh - Reuben Abati

On March 24, one Ms Taiwo Titilayo Momoh, attempted suicide at the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos. Both the police and concerned citizens rescued her from killing herself. The said Ms...

#BBNaija: Television as madness - Reuben Abati

What a relief! So, the Big Brother Naija reality television programme is finally over. It ended Sunday evening with 23-year old Efe Michael Ejemba, University of Jos graduate of Economics...

Dino Melaye: The making of a brand - Reuben Abati

// It is a sign of the times, and a tragedy that the most popular Senator in the Nigerian National Assembly at this moment is not the person who has...