OccopioView

T his is the season of weddings. The cards come thick and fast. It is not unusual to have three to five wedding invitations on a busy Saturday. After all, we live in a society where marriage is seen as a logical step to completion of self. Completion for a bachelor who has finished schooling, is about 30, and has secured some form of livelihood. Completion for a spinster who may, or may not have finished schooling, who may, or may not have secured some form of livelihood. LOVE The only qualification is that she is above 25. Completion for parents who have spent their prime years catering to the needs of their brood and feel their job is not done until the children ‘settle’ in their own homes. Completion for a society that is still caught up in the ‘live happily ever after’ world. Thus everybody feels that marriage completes them which is why the emotions vary at the conclusion of a wedding ceremony. In my time, I was a best man six times and a groomsman a couple of tim...

Editor’s note :  Professor Soremekun analyses the recent President Muhammadu Buhari’s public declaration of assets, saying that the president is not a typical Nigerian. Have we really had any novel policy thrusts since Buhari took office? As I contemplate the Nigerian condition or non-condition, I continue to marvel at contemporary happenings. The nirvana is certainly not here yet. Still, it is possible to discern new ozone in public life. Suddenly, public officials are more responsive. The refineries appear to be working. Petrol queues, for now at least, are gone. Electricity supply seems to have improved. And therefore one is tempted to ask: What has happened? Have we really had any novel policy thrusts since Muhammadu Buhari assumed the Presidency of the country? As a student of public affairs, it is possible to answer this question in the negative. Yet, there is new ozone in public life. It does not take much to appreciate that, what has happen...