Through The Prism

“The co-existence of several nations under the same State is a test, as well as the best security, of its freedom.” — Lord Acton Nigeria’s convoluted debate on restructuring has endured for decades because it supposedly speaks to questions of power, identity, representation, resource distribution, security, federalism and belonging. Precisely because the debate has been […]

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“The essence of federalism is full mutual consent.” — John Buchan Recalling Nigeria’s history in this discourse matters because the country is not an ordinary political community or mere contraption, as some advocates of restructuring erroneously imagine. It comprises peoples of deep consciousness, immense diversity in language, religion, culture, historical experience and political organisation, who […]

The post The Supreme Court and national interest: The judiciary as a public-policy institution (2), by Usman Sarki appeared first on Vanguard News.

“Political parties created democracy, and modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties.” — E. E. Schattschneider I sometimes wonder if Schattschneider would review his opinion on the centrality of political parties in a democratic dispensation if he had anticipated the situation in Nigeria today. In 2022, I was invited to serve as […]

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“To this class of enemies belong some of the educated or half-educated Europeanized natives whom our educational and religious system divorces from their race, and who, having no outlet and bereft of national or racial pride, betray the interests of their country into the hands of its foes.” — E. D. Morel Instilling pride in […]

The post Making the Common Northern Education Compact a reality: Pathway from Niger State, by Usman Sarki appeared first on Vanguard News.

“The strength of a race is found both in material and spiritual things associated with that race, that form the kernel of its being and progress or, alternatively, its degeneration.” — John Buchan When material and spiritual advance cease and degeneration becomes the norm, the perdition of a race or society becomes inevitable. The argument […]

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The first part of this article concluded with the observation that while all politics may indeed be local, the economic hardship confronting Nigerians today is anything but local. But before examining how these conditions may shape the 2027 elections, the Osun experience invites us to confront an even more fundamental question: what exactly do our political parties […]

The post Lessons From Osun 2026 and the road to 2027: Parties, personalities and the coming contest (2), by Usman Sarki appeared first on Vanguard News.

International law, otherwise known in its older and nobler description as the law of nations, is often presented as the great civilising compact of mankind. It is spoken of as though it were a sacred moral canopy beneath which all nations, large and small, powerful and weak, rich and poor, are equally sheltered. Its language […]

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“Salus populi suprema lex esto” (“The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”), Roman maxim The first part of this series reflected upon the life, character and formative influences that shaped Senator (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu, CON, Turakin Keffi, into one of the foremost public figures of his generation. It suggested that the enduring measure […]

The post Senator Abdullahi Adamu at 80: A life of service, wisdom and grace (2), by Usman Sarki appeared first on Vanguard News.

“In old age the consolation of hope is reserved for the tenderness of parents, who commence a new life in their children; the faith of enthusiasts, who sing hallelujahs above the clouds; and the vanity of authors, who presume the immortality of their name and writings,” Edward Gibbon Edward Gibbon’s profound meditation on old age reminds […]

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“The power of Rome was attended with some beneficial consequences to mankind; and the same freedom of intercourse which extended the vices, diffused likewise the improvements of social life,” Edward Gibbon Let me begin by stating that for the last forty years or so I have kept close to me the stupendous work of the great […]

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