Clay Richie

Nigerians are perplexed by their political and economic misfortunes. This is an understatement of our condition.  It is the reality of our existence that despite the bright minds and enviable natural resources that this country is endowed with, nothing seems to be working for the people. All tested political and economic theories that have worked elsewhere and have produced results do not work in our country. Somehow, they just do not work here and no one seems to understand why. Some blame the leadership while others have put the responsibility on the followership.

“When some Nigerians were executed in Indonesia yesterday, and I started reading about their ordeal, I stumbled on the picture of one of those who were killed last year. I was shocked to discover I had met him before in Mali during one of my efforts to cross into Europe in 1994. His name is Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise although we knew him back then as SON. He was a footballer, working in an Indian shop and playing for an unregistered football club at Mopti. I am not saying he was innocent because I do not know the fact of his case but I am just very sad to see him among those who were executed. My fear is that, going by what I witnessed in those places, some of those killed might actually be innocent of the offence for which they were charged, especially knowing those people hardly provide interpreter in the course of their interrogation. Once you are arrested, you are deemed guilty and only God can help you. I feel very sad and since there are still several Nigerians on death row in...

The launch of the agricultural policy of this administration two days ago is, at least for one reason, cheery news from Abuja. The public presentation of the policy document is an appropriate response to the clamour for policy articulation on the part of the federal government. Critics have rightly insisted that the 15-month old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari cannot bring about change in a policy vacuum. The nation should be shown a direction using the instrumentality of policy.

“I freed a thousand slaves, I could have freed more if only they knew they were slaves” Harriet Tubman They say they are yet to see the change APC promised. They say APC is not prepared for leadership. They claim they are being led to the Golgotha by APC.

Whether it is the international embarrassment brought on Nigeria by government officials we pay to serve our country who are negligent in their duties and would mess up the simple task of efficiently arranging air flights for our national team, or the endemic corruption among government officials in our country and the selective war against it, or the unimpressive infrastructure our country is known for almost six decades as an independent nation, or the drugs and human trafficking many of our young men are being arrested, prosecuted and executed for in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, or the sad fact that many Nigerian ladies and even teenage girls are involved in large-scale prostitution in Italy, it’s hard to tell how many Nigerians can raise up their hands in public today and say the country makes them proud. Yet, one should ordinarily be proud of one’s fatherland!

After a 'proof of life' video showing scores of Chibok girls emerged on Sunday, the Nigerian Army took a rash step that is sure to endanger the lives of the hostages: it declared Dubai-based Nigerian journalist Ahmed Salkida, Ahmed U. Bolori, and Aisha Wakil wanted for supposedly hoarding information on the whereabouts of the world's most famous captives.

Ranka dede, are you the saviour, or are we to expect another one? – Ndaeyo Uko, The Rock n’ Rule Years A year is a long time in politics. This time last year, President Muhammadu Buhari was basking in an approval rating of 77 percent according to NOI polls and could do no wrong. The presidential spokesman,