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Chidi Odinkalu: The Reminiscence of the Professors of Old, a Global Citizen, and a Paragon of Integrity in today’s Society of ‘Anyhowness’ where Ethos of Values, Character and Ethical Standards have Eroded

By Vivian Obinwa & Ekene Okolie

In Honour of Prof. Chidi Odinkalu

Growing up, professors, and by extension Lawyers, are revered much in the communities and society at large, unlike the charades we see today. In the legal profession, we heard about the likes of Lt. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa and others whose stellar performance and reputable conduct still commands admiration and respect. One could attest that after reading some of their work and reasoning, we can admit there is a lacuna in the latter system.

What is it about the professors of old? What is it that globally, people often yearn, reference, or wish for the past standards of the society, be it in parental or family front, social behaviours, education, political, institutional front and the rest? Why does it matter? 

It is about character, integrity, principles, standards, which in turn command or attract respect from the people and shapes public perception, boost public trust and confidence in institutions headed by individual of such repute. It was never based on money, material possessions, acquisitions or affluence. They care a lot about preserving their names in the sands of time and the future of the society (posterity). They take pride in preserving ethical standards and investing in human capital development.

The distinctive trait missing in the present day system is that of ethos or fundamentals of values and character (ethical standards) which the elites of old upheld, that naturally in turn, commands or attracts reverence, respect from the people, boosting positive public perception, trust and confidence in institutions when headed by such characters of repute.. …and NEVER was it about MONEY, primitive ACQUISITIONS , material POSSESSIONS or  POWER. In the present, respect, recognition, and power or positions of authority  are now being commanded by guns, threats of violence, intimidation, or curry with money, via affiliation or affinity and never deservedly EARNED.

In a society where there is deficit of ethical standards, the likes of these terms such as integrity, contentment, posterity, accountability, dignity, Virtue, self-discipline,  self-respect, meritocracy, legacy, respect or preservation of one’s name/family name, selflessness,  resourcefulness, quest for excellence,  self-reflection and others have gone into extinct. They have been replaced with “anyhowness”, “anywhere belle face”, greed, inordinate quest for power/money, and wanton quest for primitive acquisition or recognition, brazen violations and unaccountability.

‘ANYHOWNESS’ which simply characterises a society that thrives in IMPUNITY, unaccountability, inordinate quest for money/power or relevance. A society where anything goes, people brazenly do things that undermine the ethical principles, character and reputation for money/power or recognition.

A society where most characters grabbing public offices and their appointees never had any decent means of livelihood aside from sitting on public funds. Some, by reason of birth, has never known decent earnings other than feeding off public purse or “national feeding bottle” as Odinkalu would call it. A society that applauds becoming wealthy overnight by just sitting on public funds.

The likes of Prof. Odinkalu, like the professors of old has proven dignity in decent earning/labour and decent living.  Dignity in contentment. As he would say “I don’t want much, my needs are very minimal”. That is contentment.

It is disheartening and unbelievable to see professors, professionals, elites of today unabashedly justify and defend the INDEFENSIBLE. The loss of trust, the disdain, lack of confidence and negative perception of the institutions of authority by the public in the present society of ours is as a result of lack of accountability and character.

In an era where ethical standards often appear compromised or have eroded, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu stands as a paragon of integrity and moral courage, reminiscent of the Professors of Old in the present.

Odinkalu’s stance on responsible leadership values of accountability, the rule of law, due process, and other principles is evident from numerous publications and his activism and criticisms directed to the authorities and institutions.

Prof. Odinkalu has built such a reputation just as the likes of Mr Peter Obi,  that if his name should be mentioned in a circle for offers or anything gratuitous that may undermine integrity, compromise character or his person, voices in that circle will rise to say “ bad idea, ‘wrong choice’ he will never accept or buy into this”. Same offers people will go lobbying for or can never resist and say no.. That is the definition of integrity.

Odinkalu’s resilience and consistency in upholding the system and institutions accountable, and reforms even in the face of overwhelming political adversaries and open threats to life, is a striking example of a leader rising above suffering.

His resilience, stellar academic, career journey and civic activism have been captured in several publications. A few reads are below.

  BarandBench (2024) Corpus juris abracadabrum, by Chidi Anselm Odinkalu. Available at: https://barandbenchwatch.com/2024/05/11/corpus-juris-abracadabrum-by-chidi-anselm-odinkalu/

  Barandbenchwatch (2024) Prof Chidi Anselm Odinkalu is our Icon for the week. Available at: https://barandbenchwatch.com/2024/05/05/prof-chidi-anselm-odinkalu-is-our-icon-for-the-week/

  Bronwen, M. (2024) ‘A new treaty on statelessness and the right to a nationality in Africa’, Global Citizenship Observatory. Available at: https://globalcit.eu/a-new-treaty-on-statelessness-and-the-right-to-a-nationality-in-africa/#:~:text=On%2017%20February%202024%2C%20the,Eradication%20of%20Statelessness%20in%20Africa

  Odinkalu, C.A. (2024) At last a treaty to protect citizenship rights. LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chidi-anselm-odinkalu-22583621a_at-last-a-treaty-to-protect-citizenship-rights-activity-7166107371264540672-8cFu

  Odinkalu, C. A. (2025) The Character and Integrity of Leaderships Commands Respect for Institutions boost Public Trust and Perception; the case of National Human Rights Commission at his Time. Available at: https://x.com/ChidiOdinkalu/status/1931284559506845721?t=IWvZ49UXxW_gP-ccc09LIQ&s=08

His Books:

THE SELECTORATE: When Judges Topple the People

TOO GOOD TO DIE: Third Term and the Myth of the Indispensable Man in Africa

Hey Prof, the people recognize your work, the society sees you, and globally by extension. You are celebrated today  and always in our hearts and prayers.. 

■ We cannot think of reforming institutions or driving a workable society without entrenching, celebrating and rewarding the right characters and values in the society and not anyhowness, ‘anywhere belle face’ charades, and money syndrome the society worships today. Prof CHIDI is an example of hope for character and integrity. A beacon of courage for the younger generation to uphold the right values and virtues.

Happy birthday, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu. 

Mr President let’s have a renewed hope in Democracy in Rivers State

By Dr Louis A. Koko

Mr President, I thank you for preventing the unwarranted and obnoxious intent to impeach the governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, according to the statement credited to him by the media.

Though the state of emergency declared was timely and effective in averting a permanent removal from office by the state lawmakers in line with section 188 of 1999 CFRN as amended, it was nonetheless a flawed and undemocratic process employed by your Excellency, Mr President, who is both locally and internationally acknowledged as one of the heroes of democracy in Nigeria.

The clarion call from the good people of Rivers state is that you should lift the state of emergency in the state declared on 18 March, 2025 on democracy day, 12 June 2025 as a honour to the memories of Nigerians who died to ensure that democracy was restored in Nigeria on 29 May, 1999 and the most prominent among them is Chief M. K. O. Abiola, who literally speaking could be said to be your mentor and way-shower.

Rivers State is presently experiencing a gradual meltdown in many facets. Her social and economic matrix are rapidly deteriorating due to stagnation caused by the state of emergency proclamation that allows less than thirty political appointees( the sole Administrator, SSG, Chief of staff and twenty three local government sole Administrators ) to rule the state without democratic structures like the members of the state house of assembly and ward councillors of the local government areas and worst still, without a state appropriation law ( state budget).

The socioeconomic realities in the state are that poverty is increasing, tech crimes like ‘yahoo yahoo and yahoo plus’ are on the rise, sea piracy and cult clashes are on the increase, even in Port Harcourt, especially the Diobu axis of the state capital.

This could be due to the fact that the political dynamics within the political environment in Rivers state driven by elected political office holders and appointees which have helped to increase the flow of financial resources to the grassroots for reducing poverty and criminality was aborted the very day the state of emergency was declared and to worsen the matter, the sole Administrator sacked all appointed board executives and members of the state agencies, governing council members of state owned tertiary institutions, etc.

The negative consequences of these drastic anti democratic actions from you, Mr President and the Sole Administrator are responsible for some of the increasing criminal activities in the state because the boys whom some call thugs and area boys that became PAs , drivers , security guards, etc to the political office holders are now unemployed, hungry and angry , and some might have returned to crime as a way out of the existential threats confronting them during this period of unemployment occasioned by the state of emergency in the state.

The good people of Rivers State are not only emotionally wounded, they are also suffocating under the strong feet and arms of the emergency government and like the Black American George Floyd shouted for nine minutes, ‘I can’t breathe’ under the weight of a racist police officer, Derek Chauvin in Minnesota, in 2020, the good people of Rivers state are shouting ‘we can’t breathe’ under the asphyxiating regime of the emergency rule in Rivers state in 2025, and the only way to allow the oxygen of democracy flow into the political atmosphere of Rivers state and bring life to it, is for Mr President to lift the state of emergency in the state and return the suspended Governor and his deputy and the members of House of Assembly of the state to their rightful positions.

I am very optimistic that this singular action will renew the hope of Rivers People in the democratic process and rule of law under your leadership, Mr President.

  • Dr Louis A. Koko

The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.

Full List: Tinubu confers national honours on Kudirat Abiola, Yar’Adua, Humprey Nwosu, Alao Aka Bashorun, others

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday announced national honours for dozens of Nigerians as part of events marking democracy day.

He made this announcement at the National Assembly during his State of the Nation address.

Among the notable honorees are the late Kudirat Abiola, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar association, Alao Aka Bashorun, who received posthumous honours, and Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, who was conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

Also honoured posthumously were Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa and other members of the Ogoni Nine.

President Tinubu equally granted them a presidential pardon.

Below is the full list of the awardees as announced by President Tinubu:

  • Kudirat Abiola – CFR
  • Shehu Musa Yar’Adua – GCFR
  • Prof. Humphrey Nwosu – CON
  • Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu – CON
  • Alhaji Balarabe Musa – CFR
  • Pa Alfred Rewane – CFR
  • Bagauda Kaltho – OON
  • Chima Ubani – OON
  • Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti – CON
  • Alao Aka Bashorun – CON
  • Chief Frank Kokori – CON
  • Emma Ezeazu – OON
  • Bamidele Aturu – OON
  • Fredrick Fasehun – CON
  • Prof. Festus Iyayi – CON
  • Dr. John Yima Sen – OON
  • Alhaja Sawaba Gambo – CON
  • Dr. Edwin Madunagu – CON
  • Dr. Alex Ibru – CON
  • Chief Bola Ige – CFR
  • Pa Reuben Fasoranti – CFR
  • Senator Ayo Fasanmi – CON
  • Senator Polycarp Nwite – CON
  • Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo – CON
  • Prof. Wole Soyinka – GCON
  • Prof. Olatunji Dare – CON
  • Kunle Ajibade – OON
  • Nosa Igiebor – OON
  • Dapo Olorunyomi – OON
  • Bayo Onanuga – CON
  • Ayo Obe – OON
  • Dare Babarinsa – CON
  • Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah – CON
  • Senator Shehu Sani – CON
  • Governor Uba Sani – CON
  • Barrister Femi Falana, SAN – CON
  • Prof. Shafideen Amuwo – CON
  • Barrister Luke Aghanenu – OON
  • Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi – CON
  • Hon. Labaran Maku – OON
  • Dr. Tunji Alausa – CON
  • Mr Nick Dazang – OON
  • Hon Abdul Oroh – OON
  • Odia Ofeimun – CON
  • Seye Kehinde – OON
  • Barrister Felix Morka – CON
  • Barrister Ledum Mitee – CON
  • Hon. Olawale Osun – CON
  • Dr. Amos Akingba – CON
  • Prof. Segun Gbadegesin – CON
  • Mobolaji Akinyemi – CFR
  • Dr. Kayode Shonoiki – CON
  • Prof. Julius Ihonvbere – CON
  • Prof. Bayo Williams – CON
  • Senator Abu Ibrahim – CFR
  • Senator Ame Ebute – CFR
  • Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu – CON
  • Ken Saro-Wiwa – CON
  • Saturday Dobee – OON
  • Nordu Eawo – OON
  • Daniel Gbooko – OON
  • Paul Levera – OON
  • Felix Nuate – OON
  • Baribor Bera – OON
  • Barinem Kiobel – OON
  • John Kpuine – OON

“I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State,” the President added.

NCAA says, ‘If your flight departs at 6.30am and you stroll into the airport at 6.12am, you are late!’ as Air Peace accuses Oshiomhole of ‘disrupting’ operations after missing flight

The spokesperson of the National Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Michael Achimugu, has taken to social media to educate Nigerians on the timelines of air operations. 

In a post shared on X, Achimugu disclosed that a passenger is expected to be at the airport two hours before their flight. He opined that a passenger is deemed late if he or she arrives at the airport 10 minutes before the scheduled departure of their flight.

In two videos circulated on Wednesday on X, Oshiomhole could be seen addressing an official at the airport and also sitting in front of a gate at the terminal.

Addressing the incident via a statement, the airline accused the politician of disrupting its airport operations after missing a scheduled flight.

“The prominent individual in question arrived at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) at approximately 06:10 AM for Flight P47120 scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 06:30 AM,” the statement reads.

“In line with our standard on-time departure policy, the boarding process had closed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal’s entrance.

“He went as far as sealing the entry gate and manning the access point, effectively obstructing other passengers from gaining entry into the terminal.”

According to the statement, the “unacceptable” behaviour caused significant disruption to ongoing operations and affected numerous travellers scheduled for various flights.

Air Peace said it activated an operational contingency plan to board affected passengers through an alternate terminal, ensuring the continuity of their travel plans.

“We are deeply saddened that such a high-profile figure displayed conduct so unbecoming and disruptive to fellow passengers and our personnel,” the airline said.

“Air Peace maintains a zero-tolerance stance on violence or any form of aggression against our staff and passengers. We urge all guests, to remain civil and cooperative at all times.

“Aviation operations are bound by strict timelines and safety protocols, and we remain committed to upholding these standards while delivering safe and timely services to the Nigerian public.”

Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to upholding discipline, integrity, and respect for due process, adding that “no individual is above these values”.

Amazing hurdler goes viral with 50 million views completing last 10.5 metres with two forward somersaults for a win

A viral video of track star-in-the-making Brooklyn Anderson who claimed the 100m hurdle 5A state championship, has garnered over 50 million social media views. The reason – her spectacular finish at Thurston, where she lost balance clearing the last hurdle and stumbled, but stayed in the lane with two forward somersaults to reach finish line first on May 31 in 14.93 seconds.

“Nobody’s ever cheered for me that loud before,” she was quoted as saying by Huff Post.

According to NBC, the Oregon high school junior athlete blew away the competition at Eugene’s Track & Field Championship. “The last hurdle she clips and trips before somersaulting through finish line. Thankfully Brooklyn was OK due to her quick thinking and her Gymnastics background. She was also way in the lead earning her first place,” NBC said.

She told The Oregonian, “All I remember is resorting back to my gymnastics career. I wasn’t sure how far back everybody else was behind me, so I just knew to just keep rolling because I really wanted to finish first.”

On Instagram, she wrote, “Wow, what a memorable season. Year 3 is one for the books. Thank you everybody for the support, and especially thank you to the most amazing heat of girls a girl could finish a race with. You guys are awesome. GO COLTS #jryear #somersault #track #100mhurdles.”

The Oregonian called it “one of the most unique finishes to a race in Hayward Field history.” That must mean something because the iconic University of Oregon’s stadium in Eugene is more than 100 years old and has hosted national championships and Olympic trials, including last year’s qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

The left-lead leg hurdler was cruising anyway but her somersault finish just added a new way to rolling to the deep.

Culled from IndianExpress.com

Reno Omokri vs Reno Omokri: A chronicle of contradictions

By Valentine Obienyem

History is a patient scribe. It waits – sometimes in silence, sometimes in agony- for men to reconcile their words with their deeds. In the tumultuous marketplace of Nigerian politics, many parade as prophets: bold, eloquent, impassioned. But few sustain the moral weight of their own declarations. They burn bright with outrage one moment, only to flicker and fade under the pressure of convenience the next.

Among such voices is Mr. Reno Omokri, whose career has oscillated between pseudo-activism and betrayal, between truth-telling and tactical forgetfulness, between sycophancy and boot-licking. Once, he thundered against impunity in high places, naming names and summoning moral outrage with a clarity that stirred even the indifferent. He did not merely criticise Bola Ahmed Tinubu; he condemned him as a drug lord, a moral disgrace, and a national embarrassment unfit to touch the seat of power. His language was not careful, it was combative. His tone was not speculative, it was surgical. All in all, he etched in acid, Tinubu’s life portrait. But alas, such fury, unmoored from principle, often burns out before it builds anything of substance.

Time, relentless and unsentimental, tests every conviction. It exposes not just what a man believes, but how much of it he dares to remember. Reno Omokri, who once braved the biting cold of Chicago to unearth court records with journalistic resolve, now is fleeing from the very ghosts he raised. The hand that once pointed unflinchingly at the throne of corruption now trembles or gestures vaguely elsewhere. The voice that once declared a man unworthy of office now mumbles falsehoods while retreating behind euphemism. And herein lies the tragedy, not merely a lie, but the quiet, imperceptible betrayal of one’s own truth.

For when a man recants the intensity of his former clarity, he does not merely change his mind – he fractures his credibility. He becomes a modern-day Alcibiades: eloquent yet unreliable, gifted yet treacherous, a man whose brilliance serves no cause but his own ambition. His loyalty shifts with the wind; his convictions collapse under the weight of self-interest. His retreat is not a revision but a rupture – a wound on public trust.

This compilation stands as both a mirror and a reckoning. The words that follow were not forged by his enemies, nor are they distortions by partisan hacks. They are Reno Omokri’s own: written, tweeted, and spoken with moral fervour and journalistic certainty. These were not idle remarks – they were convictions etched into the public sphere with the tone of a man who knew what he was saying and believed every word.

To forget such declarations may be a failure of memory. But to pretend they were never uttered is a deeper dishonour: a betrayal of history, and a silent mutiny against the very notion of principled dissent. What remains of moral advocacy when its loudest champions cringe at the sound of their own truths?

Let us therefore return to the record – not rumour, not reinterpretation, but the unfiltered register of the man’s own voice. These are the statements of Reno Omokri, preserved in their original intensity, when Tinubu was a villain, and Peter Obi a moral light that illuminated the world.

On Bola Ahmed Tinubu: A National Disgrace

In his most incandescent moments, Reno Omokri painted Tinubu not as a flawed politician, but as a criminal element whose very presence in Nigerian politics was a danger to the republic:

“The bigger issue with Tinubu is not his certificates, or lack of them. It is the fact that he is a known drug lord who was involved in a heroin drug cartel in the US and forfeited millions in drug funds to US authorities. As any lawyer will tell you, a forfeiture is an admission of guilt.”
— Reno Omokri

“Tinubu is a known drug lord who belongs in jail, not Aso Rock!”

— Reno Omokri (2022)

“Bola Tinubu is not a fit and proper person to occupy the office of the President of Nigeria.”
— Reno Omokri

“I personally went to court in Chicago to verify that Bola Tinubu is a certified drug lord!”
— Reno Omokri

“If anybody can get close enough to Bola Tinubu to take a sample of his hair or urine… a laboratory can analyse whether he still takes drugs – and what kind.”
— Reno Omokri (2022)

“The ‘Harass Tinubu Out of London’ protest against a drug lord at Chatham House was a resounding success!”
— Reno Omokri

“If you condemn Hushpuppi and you do not condemn Bola Tinubu, you are a hypocrite.”
— Reno Omokri

“Nigeria cannot have a known drug lord as her President. God forbid. I also challenge Tinubu to take a drug test with the NDLEA.”
— Reno Omokri

“I challenge BAT: if you were not involved in a heroin drug cartel… then take me to court.”
— Reno Omokri

“It will be a shame if Tinubu gets anywhere near Aso Rock. A nation with a drug lord as President is a nation whose passport is automatically suspect.”
— Reno Omokri

On Peter Obi: A Model of Integrity

In stark contrast, Reno once revered Peter Obi with a near-devotional tone, celebrating his frugality, leadership, and incorruptibility:

“Peter Obi is an excellent man. Of all the Southern candidates, none is close to him in terms of records of past performance. He became a governor without a godfather.”
— Reno Omokri

“Peter Obi raised the bar of leadership in Nigeria. Can you believe that since he left office, he has not taken anything – not a penny – from the state?”
— Reno Omokri

“Obi’s detribalised mindset sets him far above his contemporaries.”
— Reno Omokri

“I am so proud of ex-Governor Peter Obi. I am very proud of the man. Do we still have people like him in Nigeria?”
— Reno Omokri

“In Peter Obi, Nigeria has hope for stellar and exemplary leadership.”
— Reno Omokri

“Obi made money for himself in the private sector, and he made money for Anambra State.”
— Reno Omokri

“It is an honour to be associated with a personality such as Obi.”
— Reno Omokri

On Himself: The Vanishing Moral Compass

Sometimes, Reno turned the spotlight on himself—boasting of his mentor, his moral compass, and his refusal to be swayed by sycophancy:

“My Leader (Peter Obi), thank you, sir. I am trying to follow in your esteemed footsteps. You are the best Nigeria has to offer, and we are many treading the path you set for us.”
— Reno Omokri (2020)

Final Verdict: The Collapse of a Witness

Reno Omokri has become the very stinking tale he once told with dramatic flair. Like a prophet who forgets his own revelation, he now stumbles through the alleyways of political opportunism, clutching relevance with hands stained by contradiction. His words have not aged, they remain as damning and potent as ever, but their speaker has withered, receding into the fog of disowned integrity.

The pertinacity with which Reno clings to nonsense, his wilful blindness to counsel, and the consequent prejudice that warps his judgment will certainly doom him to irrelevance, or worse, to the tragic fate of becoming a regrettable footnote in the chronicles of opportunistic politics.

His story is not merely the fall of a commentator, it is the corrosion of character. Reno’s metamorphosis from truth-teller to truth-denier is not just disappointing; it is disgraceful. He has hung his conscience on a hook of expediency and left it to rot under the harsh glare of public memory. And so, we leave him here – not vindicated, not misunderstood, but self-condemned, judged by the one tribunal from which there is no appeal: his own unedited voice.

The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.

Tribute to a Friend in Our Darkest Hour: Fredrick Forsyth (1938–2025 )

A Profound Salute from a Grateful People

In the quiet of history’s pages, some names resound not by the battles they fought, but by the voices they raised in defense of truth, even when truth was drowned in blood and forgotten by the world. Sir Frederick Forsyth, the legendary British author and journalist, was such a man, a lone Western voice who stood with a brutalized people at their hour of annihilation. Today, as he takes his final bow at the age of 86, every Igbo man, woman, and child owes him not just a minute of silence; but a lifetime of remembrance.

Forsyth was no ordinary journalist. In 1968, when the civil war in Nigeria reached its genocidal crescendo, and when the world turned a blind eye to the starvation, carpet bombings, and mass executions of Igbo civilians, Frederick Forsyth chose conscience over career. He resigned from the BBC because they refused to let him tell the truth, the gory truth of Biafra, of babies bloated from hunger, of mothers clutching lifeless infants, of cities reduced to rubble, and of a people simply seeking to live.

He flew into Biafra when it was a land cut off by land, air, and sea, a land with no hope, no allies, no voice. He became that voice.

His “The Biafra Story”, published while the war still raged, was no mere book, it was a cry from the wilderness, a sacred text of resistance, a beacon that illuminated the scale of horror the Nigerian state visited upon Biafran civilians. Long before the world would learn the term “ethnic cleansing,” Frederick Forsyth documented it with painful clarity. He did not romanticize; he reported. He did not flatter; he testified. And for this, the Igbo Nation shall never forget.

He later penned “Emeka”, a powerful biography of General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Oxford-educated rebel leader of Biafra, offering Western readers a deep and nuanced insight into the mind of the man who led his people into secession not out of ambition, but in desperate response to pogroms and national betrayal.

Forsyth’s influence endured beyond the war. His works inspired the critically acclaimed Hollywood film, “Tears of the Sun”, starring Bruce Willis, which, though fictional, echoed the Biafran experience and bore the emotional scars of a war the world tried to forget; but which Forsyth ensured would never be buried in silence.

To us, Frederick Forsyth was not just an Englishman. He was a Biafran by conviction. He was an Igbo by empathy. He was our Ezi Enyi, a true friend who stood when it was costly to stand.

In this season of his passing, we weep, not just for the death of a man, but for the fading away of a generation of truth-tellers who could not be bought, who refused to look away when injustice screamed.

We invoke the ancestral spirits of the slain children of Asaba, the massacred of Owerri, the famished of Abagana, and the forgotten martyrs of Umuahia to welcome this man who bore witness to their pain.

May Chukwu Okike Abiama, the Almighty Creator, grant Frederick Forsyth a seat among the righteous.

May the angels who guard the gates of paradise salute him as one who defended the defenseless.

May his soul journey peacefully into eternity, draped not just in British honor, but in Biafran gratitude.

As we, the sons and daughters of a once-rejected people, still rebuild from the ashes of that terrible war, we shall etch his name in our memorials, teach our children about him, and lift prayers for him at our altars.

Laa na udo, Frederick Forsyth.

Laa na udo, ezi enyi anyị.

Rest in peace, our brother, our voice, our friend.

May the soil of the land you loved embrace you with warmth.

May heaven remember you as we on earth will never forget.

21 gun salute to the immortal pen that gave Biafra a voice.

Farewell, O great soul.

— tpmifeanyi Aguikwu —

African Bar Association mourn Justices Uwais and Abutu

The African Bar Association (AFBA) has condoled with the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court over the passing of the ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice M.L. Uwais and a former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice D. D. Abutu.

The association, in two separate letters to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, sent their condolences.

The letters read:

We, at the African Bar Association, received with shock but with gratitude to God,  the news of the demise of Late Justice  Mohammed  Lawal  Uwais (CJN RTD).

This is a man that served  Nigeria with dignity,  courage and integrity at the Supreme  Court of Nigeria as a justice and reached the apex as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

He was a golden gift to the judiciary.  He carried out his judicial functions bearing in mind that justice matters.  In the administration of the affairs of the Supreme  Court, he displayed frugality and accountability in financial matters.

He was a very good friend and partner of the Bar and worked harmoniously even after retirement to establish and propagate the ideals of the legal profession.

The legal profession has lost one of its finest to the cold hands of death, though inevitable.

We mourn with you and other serving and retired colleagues in the Supreme  Court of Nigeria, we mourn with the immediate family, starting with our colleague  Maryam   Uwais,  his amiable wife and other dutiful children left behind.

As we mourn, we remember his legacies of judicial uprightness,  his judgments which are not only telling truth to power but also give justice deservedly.

We will all miss him, but consoled that he lived a fulfilled life and exited at a good ripe age.  We pray that  Aljana  Firdausi be his lot and that Almighty  Allah forgive him his trespasses.

High  Chief  Ibrahim Eddy Mark, President, AFBA.

The second letter, addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal  High Court, reads:

We are in receipt of the news of the death of Justice  D.  D.  Abutu  (Rtd), Former  Chief Judge,  Federal  High  Court.

We are aware that he held office as a judge and later Chief Judge, Federal High Court.

We are also aware that he dutifully served his country in the judicial positions he held to the best of his ability and with integrity.

We mourn with you and your serving and retired brother Judges in this monumental and painful loss.

Having served creditably and without blemish, we are not only mourning his loss but also celebrating his worthy service both on the judicial stable and administrative work as Chief Judge, Federal High Court.

He has gone to meet with his creator,  as there is time to be born and time to die. We pray that Almighty God, the creator, receive his departed soul in his bosom and forgive his trespasses.

We also pray that the good Lord grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

High  Chief  Ibrahim Eddy Mark

President

Mabel Adinya Ade’s reflection on June 12 and Nigeria’s democracy

A DAY OF DEMOCRATIC IRONY AND A CALL TO RECLAIM NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC PROMISE

June 12 stands as a monumental day in Nigeria’s political history. A day when Nigerians rose above ethnic, religious and regional divides to vote in an election that was widely adjudged free and fair. The 1993 presidential election, won by Chief MKO Abiola, symbolized national unity and democratic potential. Its annulment by the military was a betrayal of the collective will of the people. Decades later, the shadows of that betrayal still linger, casting doubts on whether Nigeria has truly embraced the spirit of democracy. Today, democracy in Nigeria faces profound challenges. Although we operate under a civilian government, the principles that underpin true democracy justice, accountability, inclusion, and freedom are steadily being eroded.

The Current Democratic Landscape puts Nigerians’ freedom of expression under threat. Young Nigerians are harassed, arrested, and detained simply for speaking out on social media or through artistic expression. Instead of serving as a platform for public discourse, the civic space is being muzzled. The arrest of citizens for dissenting views reflects a growing intolerance that undermines democratic norms. Worsening insecurity further betrays the essence of democracy.

In the Middle Belt, including Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba and several other states, lives are lost daily to violent attacks, in the North East, banditry, and insurgency. Families are slaughtered in their sleep, and entire communities are displaced. The growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the alarming out-of-school children statistics, and Nigeria’s unenviable position as the country with the highest rate of child malnutrition all speak to the failure of governance.

The cost of living in Nigeria today is unbearable. Food insecurity and unemployment are driving millions into deeper poverty. Youths, who should be the drivers of innovation and economic growth, are disillusioned and frustrated by the absence of opportunities and responsive leadership.

DEMOCRACY WITHOUT INCLUSION: THE CASE OF WOMEN.

 Despite women’s active participation in Nigeria’s democratic struggles, their representation in governance and decision-making continues to decline. This exclusion contradicts the very essence of democracy, which demands equal representation and participation. If Nigeria is truly committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on gender equality, it must take concrete steps to increase women’s representation in politics.

The National Assembly must prioritize and pass the Special Seats for Women in Parliament Bill. This will institutionalize proportional representation and reserve seats for women, as practiced in several progressive democracies. It is not about tokenism: it is about correcting structural imbalances and ensuring that women’s voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives and the nation’s future. It is imperative for Democratic Institutions to safeguard and strengthen our democracy, Nigeria’s key institutions must rise to the occasion: Political Parties must reform themselves to become more democratic, inclusive, and issue focused and not toll the line of one-party system and money politics. They must create enabling environments for youth, women, and persons with disabilities to contest and win elections and not just be used as crowd pullers or supporters.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must remain impartial, and transparent. The integrity of elections begins with the credibility of the electoral body. INEC must resist all forms of manipulation and ensure that votes count, results are not doctored, and the will of the people is respected.

The National Assembly, Judiciary, and Security Sector must live up to their constitutional roles. The doctrine of separation of powers must be upheld, not merely in theory but in practice. The legislature must boldly check executive excesses. The judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man impartial, fearless, and immune to political pressure. Security agencies must be neutral, professional, and protective of all citizens, not tools for political intimidation. Civil Society and the Civic Space must be protected and encouraged. Democracy thrives when citizens can organize, speak out, and advocate without fear. Civil society organizations, media, and activists must be allowed to engage freely in holding power to account and promoting social justice.

June 12 should not just be a date on the calendar, it must be a national call to renew our democratic commitment. It must remind us that democracy is not about elections alone. It is about how we are governed, how power is distributed, and how justice is ensured.

Nigeria has a long way to go. But the path to true democracy is still open if we choose it. We must demand better. We must protect our freedoms. We must include all voices, especially women, youths, and the vulnerable. And above all, we must never forget that democracy is only as strong as the people’s ability to defend it.

 In this 2025 June 12 remembrance, let it be known that we do not just remember history we reclaim it, and we recommit to building a Nigeria where democracy is real, inclusive, and truly for the people.

HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY!

After two decades of democratic rule, Nigeria still grapples with deep-rooted inequality and exclusion — Women in Politics Forum

Women in Politics Forum Statement on Nigeria’s Democracy Day – June 12, 2025

Today, as Nigeria marks Democracy Day, Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) joins millions of Nigerians to reflect on our journey toward a more inclusive and equitable democracy. While democracy remains the best system for safeguarding rights, freedoms, and development, we must critically examine the extent to which it has served all Nigerians; particularly women, youth, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

Despite over two decades of democratic rule since the inception of her 4th Republic in 1999, Nigeria continues to grapple with deep-rooted inequality and exclusion. The principles of citizen participation, equality, and inclusion (which are hallmarks of any vibrant democracy) are still far from being realized. Women, who make up nearly half of the population, remain grossly underrepresented in elected positions. The same holds true for youth and PWDs, who face systemic barriers in political participation, candidate selection, and electoral processes.

The rejection of previous constitutional alteration bills that aimed to advance gender equality sent a disheartening message to millions of Nigerian women in March 2022. However, we see a renewed opportunity in the current constitutional amendment process to address these historic imbalances through bold and inclusive legislation. At the heart of this opportunity is the Special Seats Bill, which proposes reserved legislative seats for women at the state and federal levels. This is not just a bill, it is a national imperative as any democracy that excludes nearly half its population is neither representative nor sustainable.

WIPF calls on the National Assembly, state legislatures, political parties, and all democratic stakeholders to act in the spirit of June 12 by embracing equity and passing the Special Seats Bill into law. This single act would demonstrate a genuine commitment to building a more inclusive Nigeria, a Nigeria where leadership is not defined by gender but by competence and shared national values.

As we celebrate this Democracy Day, we urge Nigerians to remember that democracy is not just about elections. It is about participation, justice, and inclusion. Women are not asking for favors; we need our place in shaping Nigeria’s democratic future. The time for rhetoric has passed, now is the time for action.

Long live Nigeria. Long live democracy.

Ebere Ifendu

President, Women in Politics Forum (WIPF)

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