Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

Please, do not ask me about religion. I get the evil look every time I tell people I am an agnostic who teeters on atheism. My world resolves around ethics and the rule of law. That’s it. I have no use for religion: religious convictions are not part of my existence -- the laws of man are good enough for me. I have lived in several cities: Seattle, Miami, Norman, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Saint Cloud, the District of Columbia, Houston, and Mankato. I am not sure where I am going to live next. And I have never really had a profession, only jobs: been a cook, a dishwasher, a civil servant, house cleaner, university instructor and researcher and so on and so forth. Every so often I get questions concerning the role and place of the African woman. Well, I don’t know; at least not with any certainty. What seems to work best is when both partners work as a team: cooperate, coordinate and collaborate their marital efforts. And they should be mindful of the insidious effect of modernization on the African family.

Third Term Agenda: Is Obasanjo a Gambler?

If the constitution is amended to meet the prayers of Obasanjo, what stops the next president from abridging or violating the constitution? If he won’t obey the constitution, what stops others from disobeying our Judges and other constituted authorities?

The Ijaw Question: Military or Diplomatic Solutions?

Why would you bomb your own neighborhood? Why cause mothers and fathers the grief and anguish of burying their innocent children? Go blow up buildings in Abuja. Go blow up bridges in Lagos. Go cause environmental problems in Kaduna. Go assassinate the head of the oil companies who are safely ensconced in their palatial homes in Lagos and Port Harcourt and elsewhere. Leave our mothers and fathers and daughters and sisters and brothers alone…

The Ijaw Question: Military or Diplomatic Solutions?

Why would you bomb your own neighborhood? Why cause mothers and fathers the grief and anguish of burying their innocent children? Go blow up buildings in Abuja. Go blow up bridges in Lagos. Go cause environmental problems in Kaduna. Go assassinate the head of the oil companies who are safely ensconced in their palatial homes in Lagos and Port Harcourt and elsewhere. Leave our mothers and fathers and daughters and sisters and brothers alone…

The Destruction of Nigeria by Religious Means

I have always felt that the destruction of Nigeria would come by way of one or a combination of the following cleavages: ethnic and religious conflicts, cataclysms with origin in the Niger Delta, or the combustion of pent-up anger within the military. Lately however, a fourth dimension seems to be manifesting itself within the Nigerian fault line: the religionization of Nigeria....

Love, Religion and Agnostics Like Me

What is the matter with all these Bible-carrying proselytes who bump into me everywhere I go? They want to know what Church or denomination I belong. They want me to come to Church with them, to have a relationship with Christ, confess my sins and know God. And when I rebuff them, they look at me as though I am headed for the valley of fire...

A Criminal is on the Loose

There is something about Governor Alamieyeseigha’s great escape from London that just doesn’t sound right. That an accused can just board a transatlantic flight without the Nigerian and British immigration and security services knowing about it is simply perplexing...

Governor Alamieyeseigha: Resign or be impeached

Alamieyeseigha did not get to where he is without help and encouragement. He was helped and encouraged by the deafening silence of some Ijaw leaders who also participated in the governor’s gluttonous ways; they colluded with the governor in betraying the hope and trust of the citizens...

Women and Marriage

If a man wants you to cook and clean, well, that may be okay if in turn he is willing to do the carpets, the laundry and the garden and the trash. But what if he refuses? What if he wants you to do all the cooking and the cleaning and be his doormat?

Don't miss

Call Me Tony: A Parable of Corporate Nigeria

By Temitope Lakisokun The argument over the young trainee who...

Nigerian Style Of Football

We played the game. It entailed any number of...

Osun Election: Victory For The People

The result of the just-concluded governorship election in Osun...

What Happened To Nigeria’s $20 Billion?

Nigeria is subliminally going through perilous times. Unfortunately, the...

Banks Are Not My Business

Whenever I see any bank and the ill-assorted characters...