African Affairs
An Open Letter to the President and People of Nigeria – Navigating the Complex Web of US-Russia Relations in West Africa
As the 21st century unfolds, West Africa has become a critical theater for global power dynamics, with the United States and Russia vying for influence in ways that deeply impact the sovereignty, security, and development
Truth, Politics, and Justice: Unraveling the Legacy of the Lockerbie Bombing
Introduction The Lockerbie bombing of December 21, 1988, remains one of the most significant acts of international terrorism, not only for the loss of 270 lives but also for the enduring controversies surrounding its investigation
The Next Four Years of US-African Relations Under Trump: A Provisional Outlook
The inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States ushered in an era marked by uncertainty for many regions of the world, including Africa. His campaign rhetoric, laced with anti-immigrant
President Donald J. Trump’s Inaugural Speech
Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you very, very much. Vice President Vance. Speaker Johnson. Senator Thune. Chief Justice Roberts. Justices of the United States Supreme Court. President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama,
A Critical Review of President Trump’s Inaugural Speech: A Vision of Nationalism, Exceptionalism, and Political Reversal
The inaugural speech delivered by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, offers a sweeping vision of national renewal, infused with populist rhetoric and heavy appeals to American exceptionalism. In this review, I critically examine
The Erosion of America’s Workforce and the Decline of an Empire
The United States has long prided itself on being a global leader in innovation, education, and economic prosperity. However, in recent years, troubling signs have emerged that point to a systemic decline in these very
The Role of USAID in Africa: Insights from White Malice
Introduction A few years ago, I stumbled on a copy of White Malice: The CIA and the Covert Recolonization, a book written by Susan Williams. The book challenged my belief about both the United States
“Sex Sells”- The Commodification of Women’s Bodies
Introduction: Embracing the Language of the Body I’ve always been fascinated by how we express ourselves through our bodies. In fact, I went so far as to earn a doctorate in African expressive culture
Diplomatic Overreach: Assessing the Expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool
Introduction The expulsion of South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the United States has sparked significant debate about the boundaries of diplomatic engagement and the role of free speech in international relations. His speech,
The Decline of Journalism in Nigeria: A Reflection on Edmond Obilo’s Interview with Sam Omatseye
Introduction In recent years, I have continuously lamented the parlous state of journalism in Nigeria, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the mediocrity that now defines much of the country’s media landscape. The consequences of this
The Death of Intellectual Courage: OAU’s Cowardly Cancellation of Moyo Okediji
According to Professor Moyo Okediji’s public account, Obafemi Awolowo University cancelled his lecture and book launch, and withdrew his book from the press. If that account is accurate—and OAU has a duty to tell the
When the Circle of Care Collapses: South Africa, Xenophobia and the Betrayal of African Solidarity
There are betrayals that wound the body, and there are betrayals that wound memory. The xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, Ghanaians, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Malawians, Ethiopians, Somalis and other African immigrants in South Africa do both. They
How societies learn to make neighbors killable
Mass killing does not begin with mass killing. It begins earlier, in language, in law, in bureaucracy, in the daily rehearsal of who belongs and who does not. A people are made killable when a
Why Awolowo Did Not Become President, Why Tinubu Did, and What Obasanjo Teaches Us About Power
Why Awolowo Did Not Become President, Why Tinubu Did, and What Obasanjo Teaches Us About Power In Nigeria, we often explain politics backwards. A man reaches the summit of power, and we call him destined.
The Reckoning: Trump, Epstein, and the Geopolitics of a Presidency Under Siege
There is a particular kind of silence that descends upon Washington in the weeks before a midterm election. It is the quiet of a city holding its breath, waiting to see whether the political earth
First Lady Commissions ICT Centre at Nigerian University
Nigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned a state-of-the-art Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre named after her at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife, Osun State. The hub named Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre
When Gamesmanship Becomes Cheating: The Moral Failure of Conduct in Moroccan-Hosted Competition
Sport derives its legitimacy not merely from skill or victory, but from the shared assumption that competition is conducted on a level playing field. Football (aka soccer), in particular, depends on a fragile moral contract:
Against Bombs, Not Against Justice: Why Critiquing Kinetic Counterterrorism Is Not Support for Terrorism
In recent years—especially amid renewed military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP—a troubling conflation has emerged in public debate: that opposition to kinetic, military-first counterterrorism must mean sympathy for terrorists. This assumption is not only
Fasting Cannot Fix What Laziness Built
January 2026 is almost upon us, and as predictably as harmattan dust, another ritual season approaches. Nigerian religious leaders—particularly influential voices from Southwest Nigeria—are preparing to impose yet another round of 50-day fasts, 100-day fasts,
Open Letter to Nigerian Muslims
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you), my dear brothers and sisters in Islam and fellow Nigerians. I write to you with a heavy heart
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