By Chico Mies The confrontation between Leonidas and Xerxes in 300 and the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State share striking thematic similarities, particularly in the struggle between power and resistance. Leonidas’ quote: “The world will know that a free man stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.” resonates deeply with the current standoff in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara finds himself at odds with the federal authority following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency. The Tyrant vs. The Free Man In 300, Xerxes presents himself as an all-powerful ruler, demanding submission from Leonidas and the Spartans. Similarly, Tinubu’s imposition of emergency rule can be interpreted as an assertion of supreme federal power over Rivers State, challenging its autonomy. Fubara, like Leonidas, stands as a figure of defiance, resisting what he and his supporters perceive ...
By MiesTalks The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has put forward a proposal to create 31 new states, which would increase the total number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 67 if approved. During Thursday’s plenary session, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu announced the proposed states, highlighting their distribution across the country's geopolitical zones. In the North-Central region, the suggested new states include Benue Ala, Okun, Okura, Confluence, Apa-Agba, Apa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The North-East could see the creation of Amana, Katagum, Savannah, and Muri, while the North-West may gain New Kaduna, Gurara, Tiga, Kainji, and Ghari. For the South-East, the proposed states are Etiti, Adada, Urashi, Orlu, and Aba. In the South-South, the new states would be Ogoja, Warri, Bori, and Obolo. Meanwhile, the South-West could have Toru-Ebe, Ibadan, Lagoon, Ijebu, and Oke-Ogun/Ife-Ijesha added to its map. For this pr...