Six months ago, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s grip on power in Bangladesh appeared unbreakable. The ruling Awami League had just won a fourth successive term in an uncontested election, allowing it to remain in full control of the country’s institutions. With journalists, human-rights defenders, opposition members, and other critics facing politically motivated prosecution, prison, exile, and forced disappearance, the country’s continued descent into authoritarianism seemed certain. But suddenly, last month, student-led protests erupted across the country, fueled by outrage over a quota system that allocates government jobs to the ruling party’s allies. The state’s response – a violent crackdown that…

Seven years after his emergence as Nigeria’s military Head of State, in the third quarter of 1974, Yakubu Gowon placed a telephone call to the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Taslim Elias. The subject matter of the call, according to Atanda Fatayi Williams, then a Justice of the Supreme Court (and future CJN) himself, with whom the Chief Justice discussed the matter, was a complaint by the Head of State “about the manner in which the courts in the country were being used for the indiscriminate swearing of affidavits in which allegations of corruption were made against public functionaries.”…

Last week, August 27, 2024, was the 39th anniversary of the coup that toppled Muhammadu Buhari, erstwhile GOC 3rd Armored Division of the Nigerian Army. On that day, Fatima Gumsu, daughter of military despot, Sani Abacha, who is also wife of Yobe State governor, Mai Mala-Buni, sparked a debate. It led to a comparative assessment of military autocracy and civilian dictatorship. Gumsu had posted a photograph of her father in full military regalia on Facebook. On the photo, Gumsu merely wrote, “Baba na” – my father – with an emoji of “Love”. In the photo, Abacha was flanked by then…

When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person ~ Job 22:29. Introduction: We all need the divine touch of supernatural elevation in our lives in order to be where we are destined to be. For every “promised land”there are giants to conquer, and until you conquer you cannot possess your possessions. Nonetheless, the Lord’s Arm is crucial to lifting you up to a realm beyond the reach of your enemies. To elevate means to exalt, magnify, lift upward,move or raise to a higher place, state, rank or position.…