The debate over whether Nigerian lecturers should be described as poor or rich is as intriguing as it is revealing about the human tendency to construct narratives that suit convenience. I recall an online exchange where the respected social critic Baba Ali asked with disarming curiosity, “Can Nigerian lecturers be said to be poor?” He wasted no time answering his own question with a firm “Certainly not!” The platform, however, fell into silence—neither approving nor dismissing his hypothesis. Perhaps the quiet was not due to disinterest but rather the uncomfortable truth that no clear answer exists. The question itself exposes…
Author: TheStories
Nigeria lives and breathes football. The Super Eagles, draped in their iconic green, have long carried the nation’s hopes with their flair, history, and global recognition. From Olympic gold in Atlanta ’96 to multiple Africa Cup of Nations triumphs, their successes shine bright. Yet, their story is also marked by heartbreak. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have once again exposed painful cracks, stirring memories of past failures. The recent 1-1 draw against bitter rivals South Africa’s Bafana Bafana summed up the frustration: flashes of brilliance undone by missed chances, leaving fans to wonder why a team brimming with talent…
An older friend of mine, a denizen of the circles of power, told me a few days ago that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was considering a retired judge from Nasarawa State to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He named him as Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, whom, I am embarrassed to admit, I had never heard of. Apparently, Liman has been a loadstone for controversies and has had robust mentions in the news media, as I’ll show shortly. I probably never paid attention to his name because my background as a former reporter…
The recent wedding of the son of a prominent Nigerian senator unfolded as a grand spectacle, steeped in opulence and fervor. Yet beneath the glamour of this joyous occasion lay a story that revealed the stark social divides of our society. The Hausa proverb “Biki na farar kaza, wa ya zo da ungulu kai ba kallabi?”—loosely translated as “Who invited a bare-headed vulture to a white chicken festival?”—offers a fitting lens through which to examine the contrasts of that gathering. What was meant to be a celebration of love and unity quickly became a stage for social stratification. The senator’s…
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four suspects for allegedly assaulting a minor in Magama Gumau community, Toro Local Government Area. The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Sunday. He named the suspects as Zuwaira Ibrahim, her two sons — Umar and Abubakar Ibrahim — and a traditional herbalist, Fatima Abdullahi. According to the statement, the case was reported on September 11, 2025, by one Yahuza Usman of Magama Gumau. The victim was promptly taken to General Hospital, Toro, for medical treatment. Wakil said the principal suspect confessed to consulting a herbalist,…
Between the politicians and the non-politicians lies a perennial dilemma for elected leaders in Nigeria. How can they strike a balance between the politicians—those who secure electoral victories through tireless mobilisation—and the wider electorate made up of civil servants, traders, professionals, and technocrats who demand efficient governance? It is a tug-of-war that often stretches the imagination of governance itself. At the lower rungs of political office—councilors, legislators, or senators—the dilemma is minimal. These officials hardly feel direct pressure from civil servants or competing interest blocs. But the higher the office, the hotter the fire. Governors and presidents often find themselves…
Alhamdulillah. These words resonate with gratitude and hope, marking the beginning of a transformative journey initiated by the Giwar Mata Charity Organization. The recent gathering in Tukur-Tukur Zaria heralds a new chapter in the lives of underprivileged boys and girls, as the organization embarks on a mission to empower them through skill acquisition, under the esteemed leadership of Hajiya Hussaina Abbas Tajudeen, the wife of the Honorable Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, this initiative signifies a commitment to fostering self-reliance among the youth in our communities. The importance of skill acquisition cannot be overstated,…
The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed sympathy to communities affected by the recent flooding from the Goronyo Dam, which destroyed lives, farmlands, and property in downstream areas. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, on Wednesday, the party urged the Federal and State Governments to immediately provide food, shelter, and other essentials to displaced persons. The PDP also called for the deployment of medical teams to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases and provide treatment to victims. It further demanded a comprehensive assessment of damage to roads, schools, and farmlands, alongside…
Anambra is heating up again. The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed November 8, 2025, for the governorship election, but what is stealing the headlines is not the men on the ballot. It is the women—two formidable figures—locked in a quarrel so fierce it seems to confirm a long-whispered idea: that women, more than men, are natural rivals, easily suspicious of one another, and quicker to quarrel over the smallest things. What was once a stereotype whispered in kitchens and compounds is now unfolding on the front pages of Nigeria’s newspapers. For years, social observers have remarked—sometimes unfairly—that while men…
Gunmen riding motorbikes have killed at least 22 villagers in western Niger Republic, most of them attending a baptism ceremony, according to local media and community sources on Tuesday. The attack occurred on Monday in Takoubatt village, Tillaberi region, an area bordering Burkina Faso and Mali that has suffered repeated assaults by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). A resident told AFP that 15 people were shot dead during the baptism, while the assailants later killed seven more on the village outskirts. Local outlet Elmaestro TV described the incident as a “gruesome death toll of 22…