Mind, Body and Country by Njideka Maduka

As President Bola Tinubu marked two years in office, his administration highlighted the gains of reform. But do the numbers on paper reflect reality in the markets and homes of everyday Nigerians? This piece breaks down the president's claims and what the evidence shows . Understanding the Thematic Focus of Tinubu's Speeches As expected, May 29 marked two years of President Bola Tinubu in office, and we were treated to an anniversary speech. I personally like to look into the speeches of our leaders because, as the saying goes, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." It gives me the opportunity to know what is going on in their minds and how they perceive things. To start with, I have come to appreciate the thematic structure President Tinubu's speeches have taken because it helps us to deal with one particular issue at a given time. This is different from the time of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, when issues were lumped together in his speeche...

  Atiku Abubakar’s reported offer of the vice presidential ticket to Peter Obi has stirred political debates ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections. What does this mean for Obi’s supporters, the opposition coalition, and Nigeria’s political landscape? I break it down. Atiku's Alleged VP Offer to Obi When I read the news about this offer as reported by The Punch Newspaper on May 19th, 2025, the first thing that came to my mind was: "The Obidients are not going to like this." And true to fact, a number of Obi’s supporters on social media, especially X (formerly Twitter)—are already writing open letters to him, warning against accepting any offer short of a presidential ticket, or else they’ll withdraw their support for him in 2027. Why the Obidients Are Unhappy Their reasons are not far-fetched: Obi, in their estimation, is the only one who can rescue Nigeria . They are already reminding him of how hard they laboured to campaign and vote for him in 2023. Now, there is ...