Ns-Opinion

Opinion

Sunday, 23 April 2023 02:40

Singing a new song - Taiwo Akinola

I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth ~ Hosea 2:15. Introduction: This year is rapidly advancing to a close, with the prospect of greater opportunities ahead. No doubt, it has offered diverse experiences to different people in very many distinct circumstances. Whatever the case, God is saying that our springs of joy and gladness are not gone forever. Please be informed that it is quite normal that certain experiences in the journeys of destiny show up with remarkable…

Sunday, 23 April 2023 02:38

Article of faith: Controlling anger (2) - Femi Aribisala

Causeless anger often relates to deep-seated sin, such as envy or pride. Malice refers to deep-seated anger that makes a man inclined to interpret the actions of another negatively. David brings his brothers some supplies from home, yet Eliab attacks him for coming to the war front. David replies: “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29). “But David, don’t you know your brother bears malice against you? Have you forgotten that although you are the baby of the family, it was you that the high priest anointed as the future king of Israel?” Joseph’s…

Saturday, 22 April 2023 03:47

Kole Omotoso at 80: A sage of all ages - Toyin Falola

Central to Kole Omotoso’s ideological leaning is the belief that moral rectitude should naturally form the foundation of human identity. As I read his works, I see the emphasis on moral dignity to curb excessive behaviour from individuals, regardless of their cultural and philosophical backgrounds. If morality were an ideological overture, Omotoso would have been an apostle with loyal disciples, since he considers morality as the basis for civilisational ideals. Meanwhile, his moral perceptiveness includes a universal examination and critical repudiation of values favouring powerful minority elites at the detriment of the hapless majority. To that extent, what is considered…

Saturday, 22 April 2023 03:46

To Kole Omotoso at 80: An appreciation - Akin Omotoso

Dear Daddy, As a child I remember waking up to the hypnotic sound of your typewriter echoing through the house in Ife. I remember, when you were writing your masterpiece, Just Before Dawn, the floor in your study was covered in books. My brother, sister and I would swim in them. I remember whenever we would ask you a question you would give us a book, saying the answer was in there. I remember this and much more on this occasion of your 80th Birthday and I am thankful that we choose you to love, guide, inspire, support us in…

Friday, 21 April 2023 03:05

Hadiza and the toes of the Nigerian Big Man - Azu Ishiekwene

Hadiza Bala Usman's new book, "Stepping on Toes," is a cautionary tale for anyone hoping to work in public service in Nigeria, particularly in the Federal Government. It's an incredible story by the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of how to break your heart, if not your spirit, in public service. In Nigeria, public service is a big deal. At no time is there a greater vacancy than when a new government comes in. The turnover in this sector, which consumes nearly 60 percent of Nigeria’s yearly budget, is unknown. However, in the US, it was…

Thursday, 20 April 2023 03:49

The subversive politics of Gangs of Lagos - Abimbola Adelakun

The Nigerian Video and Film Censors Board Executive Director Adedayo Thomas said their agency is not taking any censorious action against Gangs of Lagos, a film directed by Jade Osiberu and streaming on Amazon Prime, because the law does not empower them to regulate online content. When I read that, I could not help but be grateful for Web 2.0. Thank God for streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon! These platforms have expanded the options of artists in Nigeria beyond the reach of bowdlerizers of imagination like the “censors board”! Imagine we still live in the age where agencies like…

Wednesday, 19 April 2023 03:15

Abuja’s special constitutional status and why it is not a state - Sola Ebiseni

Contrary to wild assumptions for and against, Section 134 (1) (b) or 134 (2) (b) which deals with the requirements of 25 per cent of the votes cast at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as a prerequisite for declaring a candidate winner of the Presidential election in Nigeria, has never been directly and purposely interpreted by our courts. This is because no one has ever been declared President without having scored 25 per cent of the votes cast in the FCT to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to interpret the section accordingly. It is a cardinal principle of our…

Wednesday, 19 April 2023 03:13

Soyinka: Enough of the hubris! - Kennedy Emetulu

In all honesty, I’m getting quite pissed with all this attempt at beatifying Wole Soyinka after his clearly insulting comments he’s now trying to pass off as some sagely talk. Soyinka has happily, but thoughtlessly concocted an acidic porridge of words and language to belittle, undermine and deride young people who’ve genuinely questioned his tone-deaf comment. He’s been at it for a while. I think he needs a moment of sober reflection. He needs to climb down from his Mount Olympus, discard his oracular false airs and think deeply about what’s going on with him right now. Sure, he’s our…

Monday, 17 April 2023 03:14

Of Ramadan, you be thief, and Pantami - a mix - Hassan Gimba

This is a repeat as it was first published two years ago, precisely on 19/04/2021. Has anything changed? The reader should say. Ramadan is a month synonymous with fasting in the Muslim world. In Islam, fasting is the practice of abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and sexual activity between dawn and nightfall. At present, the world over, adult Muslims of sound mental and physical health are observing it, being the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims observe it in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. The name of the month has supplanted…

Monday, 17 April 2023 03:12

Kill the Chatbots? - MIchael R. Strain

The world has been dazzled by sudden major advances in artificial intelligence. But now some prominent and well-placed people are responding with misguided demands to pull the emergency brake. An open letter calling “on all AI labs to immediately pause for at least six months the training of AI systems” has received thousands of signatures, including those of tech icons like Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, many CEOs, and prominent scholars. Geoffrey Hinton, one of the pioneers of the “deep learning” methods behind the recent advances, was recently asked by CBS News about AI “wiping out humanity.” And, as always,…

More...

Sunday, 16 April 2023 03:18

The Smart Alec called Achraf Hakimi - Festus Adedayo

The divorce epidemic in the world and its attendant crises in divorce property sharing assumed a different colour last week in the matter of Moroccan, Achraf Hakimi Mouh and his erstwhile wife, Spanish actress, Hiba Abouk. Hakimi is reported to be Africa’s sixth highest-paid player whose extreme popularity has stuck to him like a lapel since he led his home country, Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The French magazine, First Mag, had reported that in her claim upon the grant of the divorce by the court, Hiba had requested for half of Hakimi’s assets and…

Sunday, 16 April 2023 03:16

Rejoice, the stone is rolled away (1) - Taiwo Akinola

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it ~ Matthew 28:2. Introduction On the first Resurrection Morning, the blood spoke, the grave shook, the stone was rolled away and Jesus Christ arose from the dead, unhindered. He conquered death forever, and we can now sing, “O death, where is thy sting. O grave, where is thy victory”! The suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross was not accidental. No, not at all. It was foretold, pre-planned…

Sunday, 16 April 2023 03:14

Article of faith: Controlling anger (1) - Femi Aribisala

Anger is the feeling of displeasure because of something evil or unpleasant. It is produced by the reception of real or imagined injury. It is also an expression of displeasure, often resulting in the chiding, rebuking, or punishing of the offender. Anger is natural. Everybody gets angry at one time or the other. God does not deliver men from anger. Neither does he hinder the natural expression of our emotions. Natural feelings are not wrong when directed at their legitimate objects and when they are not allowed to exceed righteous bounds. The problem arises if, and when, there is a…

Saturday, 15 April 2023 03:38

Peter Obi and the looming tyranny - Chidi Amuta

The period between a general election and the swearing in of a successor administration ought to be filled with excited anticipation. It is usually a time of pleasant speculations on the new faces that will soon grace television screens and newspaper front pages. For the masses in a polity in virtual captivity, it is time to begin getting used to new overlords and masters. For the elite, this ought to be time to debate policy perspectives and options for the new administration. There is so much in the present atmosphere that defies the tradition of a civilized political transition season.…

Page 49 of 280

Opinion

More...

Search

Most Read

Editorial

News

Business

Politics

Opinion

Features

Strangely

Crime

Wars

SCIENCE & TECH

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sports

VIDEOS