History is often kinder to the dead than to the living. It sands away rough edges, softens harsh judgments and, over time, transforms flawed leaders into national icons. Yet there are rare public figures whose lives stubbornly resist simplification. They remain objects of admiration and controversy in equal measure long after they have left office. Nigeria’s former President, General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, belongs unmistakably to that exclusive class. For more than six decades, Obasanjo has stood at the crossroads of Nigeria’s political evolution. Soldier. Civil War commander. Military Head of State. Prisoner. Democratically elected President. International statesman. Farmer. Author. Relentless…
Author: TheStories
Over the years, Phillips Consulting has established itself as a consistent and credible voice in the assessment of subnational performance through its PSPI reports. The firm deserves recognition for sustaining this effort, refining its methodology, and contributing to an important policy conversation on governance, fiscal responsibility, and development outcomes across states. In a context where comparable, data-driven assessments are limited, the PSPI has provided a valuable platform for benchmarking and peer learning, encouraging states to reflect on their performance and aspire toward improvement. As states reflect on their rankings and the accompanying public recognition, it is important to remember that…
One of the greatest disservices we can do to history is to allow it to become the exclusive property of those who once wielded power. History belongs not to presidents alone, but also to governors, legislators, judges, traditional rulers, party leaders, journalists and ordinary citizens who witnessed the events of their time. When competing narratives emerge, our duty is neither to applaud nor condemn. It is to interrogate. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent attempt to revisit the political events surrounding the 2003 elections deserves precisely that kind of interrogation. Not because he was not a central actor—he undoubtedly was—but because…
The Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State and former governor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for prioritising infrastructure development and people-oriented projects across the state. Wamakko spoke on Wednesday while flagging off the construction of the 35.7-kilometre Gidan Madi–Binji–Gande Road Project, valued at over N11.836 billion, as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Ahmed Aliyu administration. The road project is expected to strengthen rural connectivity, ease the movement of agricultural produce from farming communities to markets, stimulate local economic activities and improve access to social and economic opportunities across…
Governors Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State have praised the leadership qualities of former Sokoto State Governor and APC chieftain, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, describing him as a respected elder and a true leader whose influence extends beyond the state. The governors spoke on Thursday in Sokoto at the graduation of 1,550 operatives of the Sokoto State Marshals Agency (SOSMA), an initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s security architecture and complementing the efforts of conventional security agencies. Oyebanji, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, also commended Governor Aliyu for what he…
On a humid evening in Lagos, a young medical doctor boards a flight to the United Kingdom. She is not unemployed. She is not without prospects. In fact, by Nigerian standards, she is doing reasonably well. Yet, as she takes her seat, what she is leaving behind is not just a country, but a system she no longer trusts to reward her effort, protect her rights, or guarantee her future. Her story is no longer exceptional. It has become emblematic of a wider national moment. In contemporary Nigeria, japa has moved from slang to structure. It is no longer a…
The Weight of a Life Well Lived. Some birthdays merely add another year to a man’s life. Others compel society to pause, not to count the years, but to measure the influence those years have deposited upon humanity. Such occasions are less about age than about legacy; less about longevity than about significance. The eighty-seventh birthday of Aremo Olusegun Osoba belongs unmistakably to that latter category. Some lives are biographies. Others become reference books. Osoba’s life has become one of those enduring texts from which successive generations continue to draw lessons on journalism, leadership, public service and, above all, character.…
A Professor of Human Resource and Strategic Management at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Modupe Ajayi, has called for deliberate investment in Nigeria’s vast human capital, describing it as the key to the country’s competitiveness in the 21st century. Ajayi made the call while delivering the university’s 202nd Inaugural Lecture, titled “Human Resource and Strategy: The Backbone of Global Competitiveness,” on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. She argued that the prosperity of nations and the success of organisations are no longer determined solely by natural resources, advanced technologies, favourable policies or strategic plans, but by their ability to transform…
Three years ago, Kaduna State’s health sector faced challenges familiar across many parts of Nigeria: overstretched health facilities, shortages of skilled personnel, rising maternal and child mortality, recurring disease outbreaks, and unequal access to quality healthcare between urban and rural communities. While progress had been made over the years, the demands of a rapidly growing population required a new level of investment, innovation, and political commitment. When Governor Uba Sani assumed office in May 2023, his administration adopted a simple yet ambitious vision: to build a health system that delivers quality, affordable, accessible, and people-centred healthcare to every resident of…
The Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA) has commended Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, for retaining Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, describing the decision as a demonstration of trust, loyalty and continuity in governance. In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Saidu Salihu, the group said it received with “great delight” the announcement of Garba’s renomination alongside Governor Bago, expressing appreciation for what it described as a thoughtful and courageous decision. According to the coalition, the Governor’s choice came after months of speculation over who would emerge as his deputy governorship…