January 2026

An image of Governor Abba Yusuf with both Kwankwaso and Ganduje

Yusuf’s Red Cap on Tinubu’s Red Carpet

politics /

“What next? Kano often defies gravity. Its politics is sophisticated, dangerously contrarian, yet consequential. That explains why Aminu Kano’s NEPU defeated the pro-establishment NPC, and why PRP consistently beat NPN. In 2003, Ibrahim Shekerau’s ANPP defeated Kwankwaso’s nationally dominant PDP, only for Kano to birth a red-cap movement that is fanatical even without a cause, eight years later. Now, with the possible realignment of Yusuf, Ganduje, and Shekerau on one side against Kwankwaso on the other, the die is cast”

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an image of trump, netanyahu, xi and putin with a background of the globe map

We Owe Putin an Unreserved Apology

International Affairs, politics /

“If the price for world peace is to award President Trump a Nobel Peace Prize for ending eight wars, a delusion he firmly believes, then we should indulge his fantasy by granting this fervent wish. But since it would be grossly unfair to exclude Putin, or to ignore Xi, Kim or even Benjamin Netanyahu from such a list, it would not be a bad idea to propose to the Norwegian Nobel Committee a once-in-a-lifetime, first and last Nobel Peace Prize Quintet 2026, for all five”

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An image containing emmanuel ifeajuna, aguiyi ironsi, tafawa balewa, nnamdi azikiwe, harold wilson, emeka ojukwu, chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu and the book John de St. Jorre’s The Brothers’ War: Biafra and Nigeria

 A British War Journalist’s Account of How January 15 Changed Nigeria

History, politics /

Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi, who had been alerted by the wife of one of the murdered officers, ran to the police headquarters in his car to plot a counter-offensive. According to the book, Ironsi spent most of the morning of January 15 in the Lagos police headquarters trying to consolidate his position. Sixty years later, no one can say where a general confronted with a similar situation might turn for refuge and reinforcement. However, most would likely agree that it certainly would not be the police headquarters in Lagos or Abuja

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images of APC adc Atiku obi Tinubu elrufai trump in an orb

What You Might Expect in 2026: A Valedictory Edition

Africa, Economy, International Affairs, politics /

“From twice forecasting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would lose (2019 and 2023, he’ll lose again in 2027), months before the election, to predicting that at least five ministers would be fired in 2025 (seven were fired), nothing has given me greater pleasure than the Nostradamus-like thrill of watching a situation foretold unfolding”

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