LAURETTA ONOCHIE

In October 1919, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a massive stroke that left him partially paralyzed and largely incapacitated for the remaining 17 months of his term. The cover-up, seclusion, impaired judgements and political consequences, haunted America for years. When a person of means or authority is terminally ill, destructive behaviours are not inevitable, but the risk increases if the illness is hidden, poorly managed, or accompanied by fear, denial, or cognitive decline. In such cases, harm usually comes through the misuse of power, not personal actions. I will limit this piece to political leaders in general. Common patterns include: 1. Authoritarian overreach Fear of losing control can drive a terminally ill leader into: Crackdowns on dissent, protests, and opposition parties Abuse of security agencies to intimidate critics Suspension or manipulation of democratic processes This is often rooted in paranoia, insecurity, or a desire to leave a “strongman” legacy.   2. Wea...

  NIGERIANS AND TINUBU’S SUFFOCATING, FORGED TAX POLICY Nigeria is groaning under an economic weight under the Pres. Tinubu dictatorship. At a time when citizens are battling inflation, unemployment, and the rising cost of basic survival, the Tinubu administration’s tax regime has become an additional noose—tightening around households, small businesses, and the productive middle class. Taxes, in a responsible democracy, are instruments for development. They are meant to be fair, consultative, lawful, and proportionate to citizens’ capacity to pay. What Nigerians are witnessing today, however, is a forged tax policy—one hurriedly assembled, aggressively enforced, and seemingly disconnected from economic realities on the ground. A Policy Without Compassion or Consent From multiple levies to increased tariffs and charges, Nigerians are confronted with taxes that appear neither debated nor democratically owned. The informal sector, which sustains millions, is harassed. Small and...