The Arbiter

The Log in Your Eye, by Hassan Gimba There is a phrase that has gained widespread currency across the world: “Physician, heal thyself.” Not many know it is a biblical proverb and a direct quote from Jesus (AS). He said, “You will surely say to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself’: do here in your country what we have heard …

The Arbiter: Re-readers’ comments (1) From time to time, we try to give way to our readers to make their voices heard through their input. Well, it has been quite a while since we did that. We will start serialising such inputs.   Nigeria and Presidential Democracy: Any Better Alternative? I enjoyed reading this. I wish it didn’t end. Sannu …

A Cocktail of Fintiri, NEPA Meters, Borno Flood and Malami’s Son “This was a lynching. Make no mistake, this was state-sanctioned murder of an innocent Black man. Governor Parson had the responsibility to save a life, and he didn’t. When DNA evidence exonerates a man, capital punishment is not justice—it is murder. Trump, McConnell, and the conservative Supreme Court justices …

Mr. President! The Goldilocks Solution, Please, by Hassan Gimba Yes, we are at war! This much we said last week. But the curious and sad thing is that Nigerians don’t seem to know or don’t want to know, and our leaders don’t seem to care. Our security agencies, whose activities are akin to the movement of wavelengths, continue with the …

Mr President, We Are at War. I was supposed to continue my discourse on Yobe State, its creation, its leaders, and their styles. However, the sad news of last week has made me drop it for another time. We were hit with the sad news of the massacre of scores of people by Boko Haram in Mafa, a village in Tarmuwa local …

Hailers and Wailers: Who are more patriotic?, by Hassan Gimba, anipr This article was first published in December 2017 and repeated with minor changes a few times. I am repeating it because I find it very relevant and perhaps it may make us view Nigeria first over many of the things that pull us apart. Why should a citizen hail …

Some strategies to strengthen the nation,   This was first written on March 17, 2024, with a different headline. Perhaps we may still find it relevant in these trying times. Last week, we read how the signs are not looking good for a nation like ours that wants to be reckoned with internationally. We concluded by asking the federal government to look at …

Tinubu, beware the gathering dark clouds (1), by Hassan Gimba This was published on 10/05/2024, precisely five months ago. Was I clairvoyant? No, the signs were there for all to see. Did anybody give a hoot? Hmmmmn! Well, here is a repeat. I do not want to believe that in a country of nearly 250 million people, I am the …

Of minimum wage, tortoiseshell and Akpabio’s threat. “Unlike the stomach, the brain doesn’t alert you when it’s empty.” – Arabic proverb. There are many tales about how the tortoise got its cracked back. One with various versions stands out. It is the one in which the tortoise had two geese as friends. In the Buddhist scriptures, the tortoise fell from the …

Exploring the prospects for sustainable youth engagement in Kano State.  One of the biggest problems confronting several major cities in the country today is the severity of youth redundancy and the resulting impact on the social setup. The situation is far more serious in cities where hitherto functioning factories which were engaging many capable youths into remunerative employment have largely …