Liberty of thought, freedom of conscience, a space for reflection and ideas
I’m Lawal Hussein, exploring ideas for a better world .
About Lawal
Lawal is a public servant and a political scientist from Gusau, Zamfara. On this site, he explores ideas in governance, society and public life, with the conviction that liberty of thought and freedom of conscience matter if we are to build a better society
My Posts
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Northern Nigeria Stalled
One thing the colonial economy has consistently been criticised for is its failure to develop the productive forces in Northern Nigeria and to build a capitalist economy that would transform the peasantry. The British colonial economy was simply content with the extraction of surplus value from the peasant producers who were compelled through deliberate policies…
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Ten Months That Changed Us
Ten Months That Changed Us Staying in Kuru, Jos, for ten months, with a few interludes for tours within and outside Nigeria, is truly an exhilarating experience. Jos is known for its pleasant weather, although it is the combination of the people and the climate that makes it one of the most comfortable places to…
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When I Leave the Stage
When I leave the stage, I will vaporise into nothingness. I will join the forgettable annals of the story of the universe. I will be part of the countless generations of my ancestors whose sojourn on the firmament no one recalls. When I leave the stage, those who cherished me will sob, their faces bathed…
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Reflections on the Journey of Life
The truth is that life, at every stage of one’s personal growth, is not a bed of roses. Each phase of one’s social and economic evolution comes with its own challenges that often interrupt one’s desire for lasting happiness. Looking back at my life, growing up in the ’80s as a teenager, and reflecting on…
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Mining in Zamfara State: A Survival Strategy of the Poor
Despite the huge interest it attracts globally, particularly after the 2010 lead poisoning incident, mining in Zamfara State, like much of Nigeria, remains essentially artisanal. I recall that when I applied for my PhD, my intention was to problematise the mining crisis in the state by examining the link between disaster, whether natural or man-made,…
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Religion, Accountability, and the Changing Dynamics of Northern Nigeria
I have always advocated for religious freedom and opposed the manipulation of religion by elites to achieve political ends, a practice that has long been woven into the political culture of Northern Nigeria. The instrumentalisation of religion is not unique to less developed or traditionally structured societies; the difference between such societies and advanced liberal…
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Pele Goes Home (First Posted on Facebook on 29 December 2022)
I sincerely feel a sense of great loss following the death of this great football legend. For every child that grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, Pele was a household name. Many in our generation who had exceptional talent in football were nicknamed Pele. He was a brand- a quality brand that fascinated football…
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El-Rufa’i: The Prophet of Neoliberalism (Originally posted on Facebook during the heated debate on the Sacking of health workers for embarking on strike action in May 2021)
Don’t just blame el-Rufai; you should also blame the broader principles of neoliberalism underpinning his actions. Neoliberal capitalism has always had its mission, at least in theory, as the expansion of frontiers of accumulation for the capitalist ruling class. Since the 1970s, the capitalist world has gradually abandoned Keynesian capitalism, which is more humane, with…
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The Kaleidoscopic World of Lawal Hussein 