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How to drink from a poisoned cup: Harold Smith and the Nigerian story, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Oct. 2 -- On the eve of Nigeria's 65th independence anniversary, I reflected on Harold Smith. He's not widely known in Nigeria. And that's probably to be expected for a man whom the British e... Read More


A cabal in plain sight wants more, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Sept. 26 -- The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Nigeria's lifeline from decades of rot in the petroleum downstream, has to fight every inch for its turf. The fight started 18 years ago, when the ... Read More


An unusual view of banditry, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Sept. 12 -- Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is hardly in the news. Lawal has enough on his plate in a region struggling with banditry and insurgency, and in a state whose political heavy... Read More


Why Jonathan won't contest, whatever the courts say, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Sept. 5 -- After the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) announced last week that it would zone the presidency to the South in 2027, some names have been widely mentioned as possi... Read More


Nigeria's top oil boss walking into a trap, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Aug. 28 -- When I wrote that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is an animal that eats its curator for lunch, it sounded like a stretch. But so far, the tenure of Bayo Oj... Read More


Putin as the president's medicine, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Aug. 21 -- European leaders often portray Russian President Vladimir Putin as a tyrant, a land grabber, and a Russian bear. And following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War three years ag... Read More


What happened in the matter of Bayo Ojulari?, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, Aug. 14 -- The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is an animal that eats its curator for lunch. To survive it, either do not get close or prepare to feed this beast with an e... Read More


Peter Obi's dangerous game, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, July 25 -- Peter Obi has the best chance against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 of all opposition candidates. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may ha... Read More


Peter Obi's Dangerous Game

Nigeria, July 24 -- Peter Obi has the best chance against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 of all opposition candidates. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's People's Democratic Party (PDP) may h... Read More


Musings on Muhammadu Buhari, By Azu Ishiekwene

Nigeria, July 18 -- I met him several times after he became Nigeria's president in 2015, but the meetings did not change my impression of him as an enigma. Yet, as history peels back layer after layer... Read More