Deep Thought

 IBB Memoir: Is the Cat Getting Out of the Bag? BY Prof. M. K. Othman I love reading biographies, but I love autobiographies the most for obvious reasons—an actor shares his perspective on his actions, inactions, and covert and overt situations. However, the risk of reading autobiographies lies in the potential for biased opinions, sugar-coated narratives, and historical distortions. I have not read the 420-page IBB memoir, "A Journey in Service." Nevertheless, I have carefully studied the book review by His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the former Vice President of Nigeria. Additionally, there have been responses to the book from Sameer Lukman and Dr. Abdullateef Y. Bida, among others, along with several news media commentaries. As a keen observer of IBB's background from my days as a university student radical, I have always been interested in IBB's developments over the last four decades. IBB's revelations may be just the beginning, letting the cat out of the...

 # StopASUUStrike-Yayale's Arduous Tasks II By Prof MK Othman The first part of this piece was published in this column on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. At that time, I only knew Yayale through newspapers and news media. Nevertheless, I wrote about his responsibilities, background, risks, and potential challenges related to his assignment. This assignment involves two demanding tasks: leading the government delegation to resolve the over-a-decade-long FGN-ASUU crisis and chairing the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Governing Council, which entails overseeing the appointment of the university's new vice-chancellor. The tasks are so burdensome that one can hardly accomplish them without compromising integrity and reputation. I recounted the unpleasant stories of the late Mallam Adamu Chiroma and Engr. Bunu Shariff Musa, who were appointed at different times to chair the ABU Zaria Governing Council and serve as university Pro-Chancellor. However, both resigned due to circumstan...

 Re: The Beauty of China, its People, and Accentuated Lessons By Prof. M. K. Othman   China's narrative is not fading, and many people share my view of the country: admiration, envy, and respect. A large population is typically associated with chaotic and undisciplined behavior, as control and regulation become challenging, but this is not the case with China. The population is exceptionally high, representing over 17% of the world’s total, yet the leadership is attentive to every individual in China. Therefore, the citizens are unlikely to misbehave for fear of consequences. Our political leaders need to learn the art of effective governance from the Chinese to guide the nation to its promised future. Some of my readers have shared their thoughts on China, and I am presenting them from a broader perspective. Happy reading.   Excellent write-ups about China and the Chinese people, my professor, sir. As represented in their map, there is much to appreciate about the “fat c...