When Professor Akunyilli ‘Found’ Her Voice. By Olufemi Nelson Fajolu

But, like every other Nigerian, Professor Akunyilli (who is suppose to be the face and voice of the executive) said ‘no more’, she joined her voice to that of the masses and shouted ‘ENOUGH’. She was tired of lying, she could no longer do things that her conscience disagrees with, she reinvigorate the man (maybe the woman) in her, her Christian values were tired of being suppressed and finally she broke down like the biblical Saul when he was met on his way to Damascus by Jesus Christ and she spoke her mind. Details

On Nigeria: Matters Arising. By Leonard Karshima Shilgba, Ph.D.

Here are the facts. If INEC should go on and conduct the Anambra governorship election as scheduled on Saturday, February 6^th, in defiance to the Judge Liman judgement, the outcome will miscarry as it will be legally contested. This judgement came less than 48 hours before the scheduled election. If Yar’Adua and his kitchen cabinet refuse to cause to be transmitted to the national assembly the declaration of his absence, in accordance to section 145, which will thereby afford Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to assume the office of Acting President with full executive and commanding powers in less than one week as I write, then Anambra state will be thrown into fresh crisis. Details

Save Nigeria Campaigns: National Interest Or Revanchist Posturing? By Tondu Aonduna

A critical factor  explaining why Nigerians have become wary of those posing as redeemers is that they have for too long been taken for granted by snake oil sales men who have consistently used the goodwill of the long-suffering masses only to abandon the legitimate aspirations of the latter for self-serving and opportunistic considerations. Details

Nigeria's Solution By Non-Political Leadership Think-Tank. By Farouk Martins Aresa

It will be pure folly to think that some members of jumbo ethnic groups will lie down and let “ethnic starlets” walk all over them in competition for leadership. All we are saying is if you have perpetually failed, for God’s sake let others try. If you have any contribution to make, pass it on. We all know those noble men and women in our villages that never had a chance to contribute because of the glorification of money. It is past time we woke them up to become a think-tank member.  Their expertise must not be wasted. Oya now! Details

When the Land is Green, the People Should Not be Hungry. By Olusegun Claudius-Adeniyi

One is saddened by the current constitutional impasse occasioned by the lingering ill-health of President Yar’adua and the spiralling effects of this on the entrenchment of good governance. This unwarranted political cum constitutional crisis remains an impediment to the country’s stride towards progress and economic recovery. Our failure to harness our abundant human and material resources remains our greatest albatross while lack of responsive and visionary leadership has persistently clogged the wheel of progress. Details

The Need For A Common Financial Reporting  And Financial Accounting System Framework For Nigerian Banks. By Shafii Ndanusa

One of the reasons advanced for the crises in some Nigerian banks had to do with inaccurate financial reporting. It was adduced that some loss-making financial institutions not only declared profits but paid dividends using depositor funds. The multiplier effect of such actions on the future financials of a firm/bank is at most imaginable. With the common year-end and the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, a golden opportunity has arisen for the CBN to rectify these anomalies.  Details

Demonstration Of Unalloyed Craziness. By Usman Falalu Funtua (Engr.)

One is completely at a loss as one ponders over why the Aondoakaa of this world would continue to insult the collective sensibility of Nigerians. Can someone call Aondoakaa to order? His desperation has made him interpret the Nigerian constitution to serve his purpose. By virtue of the court ruling which empowered the VP to exercise the functions of the president in his absence, has the Nigeria bar association actually checked and confirmed that Mr. Aondoakaa really read law and actually graduated even with a pass? Details

Yar’Adua’s Sickness/Obasanjo’s Response: An Insult On The Northern Elite. By Abbas A. Dikko

Decades from today, there has never been a time when the north and it’s people became defenceless, powerless, unethical, uncultured, greed, corrupt and divided except, in the fourth republic and to date, could not find its bearings. In the history of this country, nobody would ever thought that not only Obasanjo that was rejected by his kin(s) including some people from his household, but, any other respected personality of high morality ranking can come to the north and decide who is to be their leader and freely get away with it. Details

Jos: The Actual Settlers. By Mustafa Liman-Adamu

Anybody that knows Plateau State, and the generality of non-Hausa states in the North, surely knows that Hausa culture, the good part of which is inseparable from Islam, has an immeasurable, immense influence on nearly all the indigenes who today view the Hausas among them as mere settlers.  Comparing other ethnic groups, especially those from the south, settling on the Plateau with the Hausas is inappropriate because none of them has even a fraction of his influence on the indigenes. The indigenes have absorbed to the tilt so many cultural and religious heritages of the Hausaman that it will take centuries to completely rid the Plateau of any Hausa or Islamic influences. You don’t need to be a sociologist or anthropologist before you realize that. Even the self-deceiving Chief Indigene of Plateau State cannot deny this fact. Details

Jos Crises: Insisting on Falsehood at all Cost. By Ndiameeh Babrik

Some comedians are of the view that Jos City should be excised from Plateau state and taken to Bacuhi state since it was part of Bauchi Province before 1926! Some even suggested the scrapping of Plateau state from the face of the earth. Well whether people like it or not we will say the truth as it is whose ever ox is goad. While there are important political issues like absentee president for three months, what concerns Bauchi state House of Assembly is Jos Plateau state. Details

Jos:  Jasawa Blame Yourselves! By Yusuf Muhammad Inuwa

But why is this happening to this town that was once the most serene city in Nigeria? The answer dates back to historical antecedences that occurred and the subsequent manipulations of facts and documented historical evidences. First and foremost Plateau State is a State in Nigeria and as enshrine in the Constitution a Nigerian citizen can resides anywhere within the country and equally conduct his or her business without hindrances irrespective of his creed or ethnic affiliation. And because of the hospitable tolerance of others, we have what is called Sabon Gari across the Northern Cities of Nigeria and in some Southern States that is where what other intolerable hosts called Settlers dwell. Details

Jos Crises: An Old Problem Taking a New Dimension. By Balarabe Yushau

Human Right Watch was blunt and direct to the point. It clearly states that the discriminatory policies "lie at the root of much of the inter-communal violence in Nigeria". With these policies, according to HRW, "Non-indigenes are openly denied the right to compete for government jobs and academic scholarships". In particular, "In Jos and in Kuru Karama, members of the largely Muslim Hausa ethnic group are classified as non-indigenes though many have lived there for several generations”. Therefore, HRW strongly suggests that “government should also take concrete steps to end the discriminatory policies that treat certain groups as second-class citizens" (http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/01/22/nigeria-protect-survivors-fully-investigate-massacre-reports). Details

Notoriety of Assassins. By  Onike Rahaman

Obviously, we are in a state of anomie as result of pervasive insecurity of lives and property everywhere. All of us must rise up to the challenge of fighting the menace because it constitutes a threat to our collective psyche as a people. The outsiders are looking at us as a country peopled by desperados. The amazing thing about the tales of assassination is that the assassins are products of our corrupt society. Details

Rivers State: The Bill On Illegal Development Levy. By Nwaorgu Faustinus Chilee

As a person, I have seen, witnessed and heard how a few individuals impose illegal development levy by force on land developers, landlords, landladies etc, who want to either erect fence, sink borehole, mold blocks or dig foundation of the building without being punished by the suitable authority. I therefore heaved a great sigh of relief when I  learnt that a bill on illegal collection levy from land developers will be passed into law which will put an end to the collection or rather imposition of  illegal development levy known as “matching ground or bush entry” among other nomenclature given to it by the extortionists. Details

The Wrong Side of Censoring Hausa Home Videos. By Ahmad Abubakar

Hausa home videos have been a topic of concern for many years. After ‘Hiyana saga’ critics have been in the fore front to black list this industry from the lime light of the norms of the society, this dears the Government body to come in and regulates the Film industry. The Hausa film industry has been known as very rich with potentials and able hands, but full of technological inadequacies and mannerisms, as a result of their bad depiction of morals and wrong misrepresentation of our culture with out regard to norms and ethics. Details

Nigeria: Those Military Coup Rumours. By Max Siollun

At first I dismissed it as rumour mongering with no foundation. However, something fishy is going on. Every coup in Nigeria's history has always been preceded by rumours and press speculation that a coup was imminent. Two weeks ago, the Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan reminded the military that the government will not neglect its welfare. The Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam recently urged the army to ignore those calling for a military coup. Details

The Arrest of Some Nigerians and other Nationals in Malaysia: The Truth of the Matter. By Olawepo John

On the 19^th January, 2010, the Malaysian security arrested some individuals. Those arrested have been described by the flagship of the Malaysian newspaper, New Strait Times, as having links with international terrorist organizations. (New Strait Times, 28 January, 2010). The arrest which was effected in Kampung Sungai Chincin as reported Alang Bendahara of the New Strait Times, was carried out under the provision of the  International Security Act (ISA). (New Strait Times, 29 January, 2010). Details

Is Nigeria a Terrorist Haven? (Part 2). By Max Siollun

The countries on the List are an odd and eclectic bunch. Not all of them have overt links with terrorist organisations or pose security risks to the U.S. Cuba has a lot more to gripe about than Nigeria. Cuba is an odd choice as a "state sponsor of terror". I cannot recall the last time a Cuban tried to blow up a plane, embassy or skyscraper. The irony of Cuba being on the List, is that one of the most serious acts of attempted terror between Cuba and America occurred when the U.S. tried to murder the Cuban head of state. Details

Goodluck Jonathan: An Accomplice In Conspiracy. By Leonard Karshima Shilgba, Ph.D.

I was one of the Nigerians that voted for President Yar’Adua in 2007. Do I need to swear that “If I did not vote for Yar’Adua, while I claim to, may God punish me”? Just believe me on this one; I speak the truth and lie not, my conscience also testifying to this. I only had buyer’s remorse only few weeks into Yar’Adua’s presidency. That is another matter. Whether you voted for President Yar’Adua or not, truth is he is our president. Details

Walking Through The Shadow Of Death: Nigeria and its President. By Segun T. Dawodu

The issue with the Nigerian constitution so far analyzed lies with the fact that the two-thirds of the Executive Council Members have to start the process of confirming the permanent incapacity of the President. This does not take into consideration the bias and political exigency that may exist among that many people required to make such a huge change in the government of a country outside outright military coup. It could also be a ground for abuse if a group of members of the executive council decides to push out a healthy but non-conforming president.  Details

The Plateau Christian Elders Forum, a Rejoinder. By Umar Bello

In the wake of the carnage perpetrated in Jos and environs, the Plateau State Christian Elders Consultative Forum, true to type, has cast away its cassock and donned that of sheer ethnicity to organize a press conference in Abuja with the sole purpose of accusing the GOC 3^rd Armored Division, Jos, Major General Saleh Maina with his ‘all-Muslim’ Patrol team of genocide and ‘the well acclaimed Islamic Jihadist Channel’, the Aljazira TV Channel of partiality. A section of the Nigerian press gleefully foregrounds these outrageous claims, while at the same time blanks out the Kuru Karama genocide. Details

Jos Genocide, David Jonah Jang and the Rest of Us. By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

The issue of terrorism being campaigned by superpower s of the world has gotten its firm root here in Nigeria and plateau state in particular where the terrorist David Jonah jang held sway. This is because Farouk Motallabs case is myopic compared to that of Jonah jang who was empowered constitutionally to secure his state as the chief security officer of plateau state but to no avail. But allowed innocent citizens that came from a section of the far north to be massacred since 2008 to today. Details

Governor Jang is Ripe for International Criminal Court. By Pindar G. Mshelia, Maiduguri

It is unfortunate to note that things have not changed much in Plateau State since the first crisis in 2001 despite the appeals by many Nigerians. Rather, each side seems to be digging in. On the one hand, peace became an opportunity to prepare for the next round of violence while, on the other, the crisis themselves granted each group the chance to revenge previous atrocities, defend itself against fresh ones, or commit new assault that would serve as the fuel which will sustain the flames of the next crisis. Details

Declaration Of State Of Emergency Is Imperative In Plateau State. By Baban Iya  Bala

The peculiarity of the crisis in Plateau state compared to other states is that in Plateau state, the Government has always being a party to the conflicts. It is unfortunate that the Plateau Fascists have reverted to their pagan savagery of slaughtering their perceived enemies and stuffing them in wells. Details

Kuru Karama Cannot Be Buried or Wished Away. By Garba Deen Muhammad

The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan said that “This would be the last Jos carnage”. It is tempting to be encouraged by what the VP said, but it is necessary to point out to the VP that unless his desire—because for now we have to treat his statement as an expression of what he desires should happen’ and not a policy statement—is backed by a strong resolve, he may find himself eating his words sooner than later. So what resolve do we as Nigerians, whether we are Muslims or Christians expect from the authorities in dealing with this crisis that has the potential to consume us all? Details

Trying To Compel Nigerians: What Next? By Ahmed Haruna

Why should anyone be surprised, therefore, to learn that Obasanjo, who is currently in desperate need of attention, is clumsily claiming self-righteousness in asking Mr. President to, unconstitutionally, resign? Why would a former military head of state and two-term civilian President not even wince at the suggestion that he illegally forced a successor onto a country he professed to have loved, and even goes ahead to explain details about a clean bill of health certificate from Yar’Adua and the role played by ‘experts’ before finally declaring that he did no wrong? Details

A Nation in Constitutional Row. By Onike Rahaman

The insistence of Federal Executive Council last week that President Umaru Yar’Adua is medically fit despite all the agitations has raised constitutional questions. This is the second time that the council would take a stand that the ailing president is not incapacitated. Contrarily, the senate passed the resolution that Yar’Adua should properly hand over to the vice president Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President. Obviously, the senate and the council could not agreed on the medical fitness of the president thereby posing challenges to the nation’s constitutional democracy. Details

Between Atiku and Boni Haruna. By Zayyad I. Muhammad

Today’s frosty political-relationship between Atiku and Boni Haruna is generating comments from three groups: Atiku’s political disciples, Boni’s followers and students of politics. Atiku’s sympathisers are of the opinion that, Boni Haruna has exhibited a character of an ingrate, they stressed that, it was by Atiku’s grace he became the Governor of Adamawa State. Details

Asmara Declaration On African Languages And Literature: Ten Years After. By Attahiru Muazu

It’s a whole decade since the “Against All Odds: African Languages and Literature In The 21st Century” conference took place in Asmara, Eritrea which gave birth to the famous Asmara Declaration on 17th January 2000. Since then, many questions were left unanswered but certainly not unanticipated. The title of the conference itself –Against All Odds- not only celebrated the will and determination that led to the gathering in the first place but also signalled a premonition of challenges ahead for African languages. Details

Haiti: Appreciating the Essence of Humanity* By  Attahiru Kawu-Bala

 ‘What went wrong with the black man? Hurricane occurred in Haiti and now earthquake.’ You hear so many stories purporting to analyse the endless ‘wrongs’ in Haiti, but none substantive if the truth must be told. Others were: ‘Haiti as the first Black Country to get independence should have developed if serious and the successive governments transparent’; ‘aids go to drain pipes whenever sunk and what’s wrong’, they kept hammering, ‘with the black man.’ ‘What went wrong with Haiti all these years?’ These queries have not allowed even the sky to clear from the chaos raised by the quake.  Details

General Game Changer Flashes His Joker. By Farouk Martins Aresa

Give the devil his due, OBJ became the Head of State, not once but thrice until Nigerians stopped him for the fourth time. If he has not outclassed both the North and the South, please tell us who else had, that long. On top of that, OBJ knew what he wanted and how to get it. The reason the South is mad at him today has to do with the fact that he did not do all their biddings. The same is true about the North that thought once they had him in power, he would dance their tune. Yet, he included all ethnics in major posts. Details

Sokoto State Sponsored Bulgarian Doctors: Wamakko has failed! By Aisha Hassan Bodinga

It is disheartening to learn that the state government, beginning with Bafarawa’s administration that initiated the programme, had spent much towards their medical training with a view to equipping the state with required medical doctors but only the state to now allow such professionals to turn beggars in Bulgaria at a time their services are highly welcome in the state health institutions. What a waste of public funds, if such laudable programmes could be halted at this critical point!   Details