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What’s a book, movie, or TV show that you wish you could experience again for the first time? The force of the defence by Al Pacino of an underdog student against the establishment of an elite school and rogue students. "Outta order? I'll show you outta order! You don't know what outta order is, Mr. …
Nyesom Wike’s interactions with Nigeria’s judiciary represent a complex interplay of infrastructural support, political strategy, personal networks, and perceptions of influence. His record features unusually high court success rates, generous “welfare” gestures toward judges, and notable family advancements in the legal hierarchy. These elements fuel debates about merit, patronage, judicial independence, and elite capture in …
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (born December 13, 1967) is a prominent Nigerian politician, lawyer, and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since August 2023. He previously served as Governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, earning a reputation as a bold, results-driven, and often combative leader. Early Life and Education Wike hails …
Continue reading "Times of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike by Lawson Akhigbe"
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike exemplifies patronage politics (also called clientelism or godfatherism) in contemporary Nigeria. This system involves asymmetric exchanges where a powerful patron provides resources, opportunities, protection, or access in return for loyalty, political support, and control. In Nigeria’s context, it blends traditional African big-man politics with the realities of weak institutions, oil wealth, and …
Firing Squad In a moment of pure, unadulterated political adrenaline, Edo State’s Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, went full Game of Thrones. Standing before a frustrated public, he announced a "brilliant" new security strategy: convicted kidnappers will be publicly executed right in King’s Square. Cue the dramatic music. Cue the applause from a terrified populace tired …
Centre for Nigeria Progress 