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Insecurity: Who is Safe in `Nigeria?

 Insecurity: Who is Safe in `Nigeria? By Prof M.K. Othman Blueprint newspaper published the first part of this article three years ago on Thursday, January 14, 2021, in my weekly column of Deep Thought. Because of what was written in the article, I received a ton of threats to my life from the dark forces operating behind the scenes. Momentarily, the threats baptized me into the world of being a social critic and its consequences. Fear of death is pointless because everyone eventually has to experience the bitterness of death: kings, queens, and their subjects, as well as murderers, oppressors, and terrors, must all succumb to the cold hands of death at the appointed time without hesitation. Why should anyone be a cause for another person to go to the grave? Still, I was certainly taken aback because I had not written worse than what others had written or said about the security situation in this country. The chaotic situation where lives and properties have no value, people and places

Ningi-gate: Macabre Dance in Public Domain

 Ningi-gate: Macabre Dance in Public Domain By Prof M.K. Othman The legislature, judiciary, and executive are three pillars of the presidential system of democratic governance. The relationship between the three arms of government is a perfect complementary system for transparency, accountability, checks, and balances to advance the cause of governance and achieve national development.     The legislature is the most influential and powerful compared to the other two. The legislative arm is the heart and brain of government, as it can make and unmake the two different arms because it can have an overbearing influence on them, even though the judiciary is always a judge in a tussle between the executive and legislature. The executive formulates, implements, and funds government policies, projects, and programs in line with constitutional provisions, while the legislature regulates and oversees the executive and judiciary. The legislature has the power to summon the executive at short no

Obasanjo@87: Grand Salute to Embodiment of Africanism and Leadership

 Obasanjo@87: Grand Salute to Embodiment of Africanism and Leadership By Prof. M.K. Othman   On August 21, 2017, I held my head high, overwhelmed by the pride of being a Nigerian in the United States of America. Thanks to the portrait of Olusegun Obasanjo, conspicuously hung in an auspicious room called the "Hall of Laureates" at the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa. I was daydreaming until the resonance of the articulated voice of Ambassador Kenneth Quinn woke me with his unforgettable statement, "These are pictures of pioneer board members of the World Food Prize Foundation." I was not expecting to find a picture of a black African hanging amid the photographs of board members in the laureates' hall. Still, the picture of one of our own, Chief Obasanjo, was there. He indeed made me happy and moved with dignity. That was not all; Ambassador Quinn proudly announced that the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate was won by one of us, a famous Nigerian, Dr

Re: Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki- The Fall of Farmers' General II

 Re: Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki- The Fall of Farmers' General II By Prof. M. K. Othman Contrary to Mark Antony's statement in Shakespeare's play in 100 BC, "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is often interred with their bones," there are certain men whose good was so great that part might have been interred with their bones for heavenly reward. The other part might continue to immortalize them several years after their deaths. The testimonies of people touched by Prof. Mustapha Ahmed Falaki during his well-spent life make it irresistible not to share a few more with those not opportune to associate with him. Happy reading.   It has been exactly nine years, one week today since Falaki died. I first interacted with him one-on-one and closely around 1989 when choosing undergraduate project topics in agronomy for the crop science option. The tradition then was students chose topics drawn along IAR research activities by lecturers. On his guidance

Salamatu-WOFAN: One Woman's Ferocious Fight against Family Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria

 Salamatu-WOFAN: One Woman's Ferocious Fight against Family Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria By Prof. M.K. Othman Nigeria, as a developing country, has a pocket of rotten eggs but is endowed with kindhearted people who give a helping hand to people in need. Hajia Salamatu Garba is a benevolent personality who founded the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) to provide hope to the hopeless. The story of WOFAN creation is a heartwarming and motivational tale of how an act of kindness from one person can spark a lifetime dedication to helping the unfortunate and rescuing those in need. One bright sunny day, Hajia and her students of Biological Sciences at Ahmadu Bello University waited for the driver of the Departmental vehicle to go for field practical in nearby villages. The driver failed to show up; Hajia, a tenacious woman, hardly accepted failure and thus decided to drive the students in her car for the practical. Her decision to drive the vehicle became an entry point that com

e: Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki- The Fall of Farmers' General

 Re: Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki- The Fall of Farmers' General By Prof. M. K. Othman   The late Prof. Mustapha Ahmed Falaki had a larger-than-life personality during his working career that made his name ring the bell nine years after his assasination. As expected, my tribute last week to the academic colossus, social-justice crusader, power of the powerless, and farmers' general, Mallam Falaki, attracted praise and happy testimonies from those whom his human kindness touched. It was a life well spent; we pray that his maker, who is also our maker, the Almighty Allah, forgives Falaki's shortcomings and admits him to Aljanna Firdausi. I am sharing some of the comments. Happy reading.   Mallam Falaki, as we respectfully called him, was a father, a teacher, a colleague, a mentor, and an advisor to me. I may be correct to say that among his students and colleagues, I was the closest to him. As you rightly mentioned, he was instrumental in the admission and employment of

Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki: The Fall of Farmers' General

 Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki: The Fall of Farmers' General By Prof. M. K. Othman   On Saturday, February 14th, 2015, my phone repeatedly rang in the middle of my lovely squash game. I cursed myself for not putting the phone on silent mode. I hesitatingly answered it. The distance caller said, "Prof, you are in the court playing, so you didn't hear that Malam Falaki (as we fondly called him) is dead; he was assassinated." Shockingly, my phone fleetingly fell out of my hand, momentarily confused. After confirmation, I witnessed Falaki's burial in Kano on the same day. Today, Wednesday, February 14th, 2024, marked the ninth year since we lost Professor Mustapha Ahmad Falaki through cruel and gruesome murder in cold blood by yet-to-be-identified assailants. My esteemed readers, I am dedicating my column this week to pay tribute to my excellent mentor, teacher, and farmers' General, Prof. Falaki, again. I am paraphrasing my earlier tribute, which was written