Ogiri John Ogiri

By Ogiri John Ogiri Over the years, people have defined a serious Christian to mean the one who doesn't miss the Mass or Service, who prays everyday and who speaks in strange tongues or who pays tithe in church. But are these enough to qualify someone as a Christian? Can we align this display of piety in pari passu with those of the early Christians in Antioch in Pisidia- a way of life that made the people call them "Christians" because they behaved like Christ? The truth is that being a Christian goes beyond being a churchman or woman; it is more than trying to pray better and longer than Jesus taught and did. It is more than the superficial display of piety that characterizes our Christian life today. It requires sacrifice without counting the cost. It involves the cross as the lot of all of us. St Paul challenges us: "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophe...

  By Ogiri John Ogiri As Nigeria approaches another critical electoral cycle, political parties are once again confronted with decisions that will shape their future and influence the direction of the nation. For the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the moment calls for careful reflection, strategic thinking, and alignment with the prevailing mood of the electorate. Issues of zoning, fairness, and national cohesion remain central to political calculations, and any misstep could prove costly. It is within this context that the party must weigh its options and act in a manner that prioritizes collective success over individual ambition. Several candidates are jostling to fly the flag of the party by 2027. One of those strong contenders is our father, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is an elder statesman. Yes, he is widely regarded as an elder statesman whose experience in national politics commands respect. But I understand he won't contest. He shouldn't contest. ...

  By Ogiri John Ogiri It is no longer news that senator Ahmed Wadada has been formally endorsed annointed and presented to the president by the governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Engr A.A Sule. Senator Wadada is now the new bride and heir apparent to the governor's throne. However, what many may not know is that the ripples generated by that action may take time before finally settling into quietude. One thing is clear: a winner has been projected even before we go into elections. The implications of the governor's action can be troubling. By that singular premature endorsement, Governor A.A Sule has punctured and ruptured the sac of unity in the APC in Nasarawa State. Now, the initial quietude in the party has been unsettled by disquietude .Now party loyalists and their initial permutations are in disarray. New alignments and realignment have intensified. The governor has taken side too early. That open endorsement was ill-advised and premature. That was a tacit appr...

  By Ogiri John Ogiri Terrorism, insurgency, and banditry have become major security issues in Nigeria over the past decade, affecting lives, property, and national development. These threats are largely driven by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province, which operate mainly in the northeastern region of the country. Their activities include attacks on civilians, destruction of communities, kidnappings, and disruption of economic activities. In addition to insurgency, banditry has emerged as a serious problem, particularly in the northwestern region ( namely Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna States etc) and north-central region (Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kwara States and some remote parts of the FCT Abuja). Armed groups, often referred to as bandits, carry out mass kidnappings, cattle rustling, village raids, and attacks on highways. Unlike insurgent groups with ideological motives, bandits are largely driven by financial...