Deep Thought

 Beyond the Dance: Lessons from Osun 2026 for Nigeria 2027 By Prof. M.K. Othman   I have been itching to write about the 2026 Osun gubernatorial election. Still, work pressure, political sensitivity, and the Nigerian tendency to condemn people based on their names, ethnicity, religion, etc., kept me from writing until the desire became irresistible. When the campaign for the Osun election was at its peak, I told one of my wives (don’t mind my polygamous nature) that I am keenly interested in the process and outcomes of the Osun election; she waved it off as a non-event: reelection of a dancing governor? What does he do except dance at the slightest opportunity? How can he win against the ruling party at the center? Well, I ignore her being apolitical and knowing very little about the dancing nature of the southwest leaders. My leader-figure from the southwest, whom I respect so much and have written about twice in my column and my book, “Three Decades of SAA: Fight Against Hun...

 Nigerian Road Accidents: “New Norms” Adoption and Docility of FRSC Officers By Prof MK Othman A few years ago, on my way to Sokoto, I met a stern-looking Road Safety Officer at the rail crossing of Tsafe town, Zamfara State, who demanded my vehicle’s particulars, which I delivered promptly. After examining the particulars, he demanded a triangle and a fire extinguisher, which I provided. When he found nothing amiss, he tried to operate the Extinguisher and, in the process, broke the pressure head. We looked at each other, and he profusely apologized.  While the scene was being played, an overloaded commercial car passed by, its passengers and goods crammed in at three times the vehicle's capacity. The Road Safety officer pretended not to see the vehicle by looking the other way. I collected my particulars and drove away without uttering a word. Another time, a Road Safety officer stopped me in Funtua, Katsina State, and demanded to see my driving license, which I handed over ...

 Kabir Ibrahim (1959-2026): Adieu, Fearless, Passionate Farmers’ Champion By Prof. M. K. Othman My students can easily quote my statement that “high-ranking and successful farmers globally are mostly those coming from other professions and had no formal training as agriculturalists.” Like football, the love of farming is driven first by passion and family food security, then by business acumen. Farming has the widest standard deviation; you can invest heavily and lose every dime, or you can make profits in multiples of your investment. Arch Kabir Ibrahim Faskari was a typical example of a successful farmer driven by passion and love for the farming venture.   My first meeting with Arch Kabir Ibrahim Faskari was on 2nd May 2015, when he visited the then Executive Director (ED) of the National Agricultural Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Dr. Ismaila Y. Ilu, accompanied by Alhaji Iro Suleiman. I was called to hear the challenge he issued to the Agricultural Complex of Ahm...