Open Letter To Northern Governors. By Max Gbanite

Your Excellencies of 18 Northern States and a Chief Servant of 1 State (Niger State) think about Sam’s suggestions and while at it, let me expand on the words ‘reawaken the well-known enterprise of the Igbo people’. You see, at the end of the civil war (1966-1970) which most of you were too young to know or understand the cause, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the then Commissioner for Finance (called Minister today) and civilian Vice President, sold a wicked and devastating policy to His Excellency, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, the then Head of State and his government. Chief Awolowo’s policy recommended that any Igbo indigene that had money in his/her Nigerian bank account before the war should be given twenty pounds at the end of that war to start life and rehabilitate his/her family.  Details

That Attack on Fellow Africans in South Africa. By Segun Imohiosen

Isn't it surprising that this is the same people our dear former President Obj (Olusegun Obasanjo) once said that we should look for African juju, black magic to fight the Bothas and the likes on the side of South Africans against the apartheid masters. Details

Back To The Dark Ages Or Into Our Villages. By Farouk Martins Aresa

Power Holding Company of Nigeria has moved some of us to the point of starting a movement back into our villages, back to our farms. As much as we want to be optimistic about Nigeria, we are stuck in the face with some brazen realities that it will be foolish to live in a false sense of grandeur. What business can anyone do with less than one hour of electricity a day, that is, if you are there to take advantage of it, for about three weeks?  Details

Obasanjo’s Latter-Day Critics Should Shut Up. By Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

In the early years of his presidency, I was a supporter. I was a supporter of President Obasanjo. After the calamity that was Ibrahim Babamgida, and the iniquity that was Sani Abacha, I believed Obasanjo could do no worse. Although he was neither a Yakubu Gowon, nor an Obafemi Awolowo and neither was he a Muhammadu Buhari, still, I was confident he was the man to pull Nigeria from the abyss, the man to set the country on the right path. Details

Babangida: His Life And Times (Part 3 - The Return Of The Military. By Max Siollun Babangida’s good friend MKO Abiola might not have been the only civilian collaborator.  Other media outlets, opposition politicians and the public joined in with the lacerating criticism of Shagari’s regime. The former Emir of Gwandu Mustapha Jokolo (then an army officer and one of the coup plotters) also claimed that former Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen T.Y. Danjuma was briefed of the plot to overthrow Shagari, and lent his support by using his prestige to criticise Shagari’s government in the media.  The critics were wittingly or unwittingly inciting a military comeback by Babangida and his colleagues. Details

Times Are Changing In There. By Uche Nworah

I sometimes wonder why we have to spoil a good thing. What’s wrong in helping to sustain a process or a system that has served and is still serving us well? The buzz word all over the world at the moment is sustainability. That means using less of today’s resources or rather using today’s resources in such a manner that there will still be plenty left for the generations coming after us. Details

The Rule of Law in Nigeria. By Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai

Governments must acknowledge that the rule of law is effective regulatory machinery that brings order and good governance to any society. The late Chief Justice Sir Adetokunbo Ademola told the African Conference on the Rule of Law, in Lagos in 1961, that “the rule of law is not a Western idea, nor is it linked up with any economic or social system. As soon as you accept that man is governed by law and not by whims of man; it is the rule of law. It is based on principles; it is not an abstract notion. Details

Anatomy of 'Chicken Coop Politics' and Niger Delta Development. By Martin Abadani Nigeria politics is tribal. Its true. Africans are very tribal oriented. In some cases, politicians tow the religious or tribal line first, then local or regional interest. No politician is detribalized in Nigeria as the media makes you to believe. Let's pause a minute and look at our politicians, federal and state legislators, governors and the Presidency. Details

Of Respect and Foreigners. By Tosin Awotesu

Now, I do not intend this piece to be a blow-by-blow account of what went on inside the British Airways offices on the day. I’m writing this as a witness to a condition. This condition is what the one and only Abami Eda, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti would have called “colo-mentality”.  Details

Overcoming a Latent Inertia to Food Security in Nigeria. By Joachim Ezeji

Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) sponsored Ecosan course participant and social entrepreneur, Jonathan Eke had come to the sub-technical committee meeting of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Abuja Nigeria to convince the group on why the ministry should adopt the eco-sanitation technology as a desired sanitation option, but the technology he is promoting appears very strange and exotic to a majority of the audience. Details

Courts Refused To Punish Mothers & Children For Polygamy. By Farouk Martins Aresa

Africans, Asians and older cultures are not the only ones who can not imagine why mothers and children would be punished for polygamy they never perpetrated, nor imagine it would happen in cultures that practice polyandry. U.S Texas courts agree. It was the Irish, Italians and Africans the day before, gays yesterday, polygamists today. Details

Taming  Kano Demagogue. By  Abban Muhammad

Before his election in 2003, Kano state governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau had not left anybody guessing about the style of governance he wanted to adopt. Tamu ba irin tasu ba ce, meaning: ours is different from  theirs, was the popular slogan he used during his campaign those days. And trust Kano people, whose love for constant political change is somewhat obsessive, Shekarau was given a benefit of doubt. The hope was that he was going to make the difference as he promised. details

India’s Information Technology Lift-off - A Lesson for Nigeria. By Bello Salihu

Imagine a patient in a hospital room in the small village of Dikwa in Borno State describing his or her symptoms to, and being “seen” by, an expert in the University of Lagos. They are communicating via a live video link relayed through the internet between the two locations. The patient and the doctor are looking at each other and together at a blow up of an x-ray image being evaluated by the doctor.  Details

Nigeria Youths And European Football. By Bosah Chinedu Donald

... there is growing fanaticism among layers of youths in the country, which has almost aped English fans and hooliganism. It was most unfortunate that before, during and after the last UEFA champions’ league match between Chelsea and Man United on May 21 2008, 7 youths lost their lives while several others were badly wounded in different parts of the country as a result of clashes and celebration. Details

Can We Now Agree that the War Against Corruption is Dead in the Water? By Adewale, Francis

Nigeria welcomed her first female anti-corruption czar last week, when Ms. Farida Waziri was confirmed by the senate and sworn in by the Attorney General, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa. The news itself would have been a “causa celebra,” worthy of celebration had it not been overshadowed by what preceded the senate confirmation hearing.  Details

June 12: 15 Years After. By Chido Onumah

Babangida has yet to explain why he annulled the election that was judged by all and sundry as the “freest and fairest” in the nation’s tortuous electoral history. The only thing we can deduce from Babangida’s many vain glorious pronouncements on the election is that he did it in the interest of the country, whatever that means. Details

Prosecuting Obasanjo and His Men. By Abbas A. Dikko

In the last eight years of his rule, the only election adjudged fair, was the 1999 election which was never conducted by him. But, the 2003 and worst 2007 elections were so far, confirmed to be a sham, flawed and a clear demonstration of his administration's failure to execute a free and fair, credible and acceptable election by every standard. Details

Good Luck? Bad Luck? Who Knows? By Bala Muhammad

In school, we all remember, the teacher used to ask: where did we stop the last time? That’s the question I want to ask today: where did we stop last week? If we remember correctly, the very last word was ‘Goodluck’, wished upon us by a person who wishes us so well. Therefore, there is no better way to continue our discourse than to dwell for some length of time on Luck, good and bad. Details

Loss of Shell's Oil Rights in Ogoni: Matters Arising. By Ifeanyi Izeze

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is obviously a very interesting man and this clearly manifests in his kind of policies and choice of venues to announce them. It may not be apt to think that something may be wrong with the President’s style however, his recent announcement in South Africa on the loss of all oil rights in Ogoniland by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) heavily supports the notion that either the President or his handlers may need a second look at the administration’s style of announcing policy decisions. Details

Kano State Government Vs Kannywood: Telling It Like It Is. By Lawan Mariri

Ever since the unfortunate incidence of phonographic video clip scandal that rocked Hausa film industry and the subsequent suspension of film activities in the state, the spectacles we have been treated to on the handling of the crises leaves much to be desired by any cynical observer.  Watching the unfolding events, you would think that Hausa film-makers were Kano’s No. 1 problem, and which the state government is frantically working to stamp out.  Hausa film makers are labeled with all sorts of names from infidels to agents of the Jews and anti-Islamic, etc.  Details

Worrisome Signals from Kano. By Idris I M

I am disturbed by recent happenings in my state, Kano .  In fact my heart bleeds. Please do not mistake my sadness on the burning issues concerning perennial lack of portable water or dilapidated infrastructure, neither on the astronomical increase in illiteracy level occasioned by the poorly articulated state government educational policy, nor on the comatose healthcare system in my state.  Details

My June 12 Story. By Ifedigbo Nze Sylva

In my childish innocence, I felt hurt by the unfolding events. Somehow, I feel some thing in me died with that annulled election. I kept hoping that some thing will happen, but they only got worse. I never ceased hoping that one day MKO will return to assume his mandate and in some ways today, fifteen years after, I am still hoping. Details

Globalization A Curse or Blessing to Africans? By Sani Bala Shehu

Globalization has both negative and positive aspects. Among the negative aspects are the rapid spread of diseases, illicit drugs, crime, terrorism, and uncontrolled migration. Among globalization’s benefits are a sharing of basic knowledge, technology, investments, resources, and ethical values. Details

Tribute to Late General Sani Abacha. By Muhammad Nourah Bamalli

General Abacha recalled when he visited Germany and insisted in seeing the Berlin wall and even in crossing (from the western side), to the other side, to see for himself. He narrated that he was denied the opportunity, but he insisted, so much so that the adventure turned into a showdown; which he said, was settled by the officials of the Nigerian embassy, who intervened by identifying him to the German officials. In the end he was allowed to pass through and even had the opportunity to ask questions. Details

Hiring of Niger Delta Militants as Pipelines Security Guards: An Exercise in Futility! By Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

Some of the Nigerian newspapers reported that the Nigerian Hon. Minister of Defence, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed outlined a major policy thrust of the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the dangerously troubling militant activities taking place in Nigeria’s oil and gas rich Niger Delta region.

According to these reports, the Federal Government and probably in consultation with the other two tiers of governments at the State and Local Government levels have perfected plans for “constructive engagement” with the Niger Delta militants. Details

An Examination of the Yaradua's Regime as an Extension of the Second Republic. By Francis Adewale

I have often wonder why successive Nigerian government makes their inept predecessors look like professional saints? It is as if something is inherently wrong with our politicians way beyond comprehension. They all come to power with high hopes, vowing to right entrenched wrongs in our polity. Sadly, they ended up making a big mess than their predecessors ever imagined. Don’t get me wrong I am not writing off the present regime in Abuja, but to tell the truth, they are wearing thin my patience. Details

How Nigeria Helped to Set South Africa Free. By Anthony Okosun

South Africa is a country, whose people would still have been struggling to eke out a meager existence in the back waters of their own country, had Nigeria not embolden herself and flex her muscles to rescue brother and sister Africans, who were deluged with oppression and humiliation in the southern most tip of the motherland continent. How weird and bizarre and what a horrendous shame  that Nigerian citizens would now be repaid with ghastly murder, looting, intimidation, brigandage and untold humiliation of her citizens in a territory, that should solemnly be regarded as a brother African homeland for Nigerians. Details

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Presidency: One Year after The Challenging Times Ahead. By Abubakar A Nuhu-Koko

Numerous editorial reviews by newspapers, magazines, electronic media (including online websites/blogs) and pundits greeted the first anniversary of the administration of Nigeria’s President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (UMYA) on May 29^th 2008. Expectedly, both positives and negatives (i.e., pluses and minuses) commentaries of his action and or inactions dominated the rituals. This piece is different from all of that. It is about the challenging times ahead; specifically, focusing on just a few but strategic national issues. Details

Atiku’s ‘Dual Citizenship’ Suit Against Iwu Will Affect Millions Of Nigerian Diaspora. By Wale Odusote Anyone who surfs the thriving Nigerian Blogs (internet media) would have noticed these admirable and muscular debates of issues that concern Nigeria and Nigerians – both at home and abroad. One issue that may as yet take primetime in cyberspace is a little noticed suit filed by Abubakar Atiku and Action Congress seeking to have Maurice Iwu removed as Chairman of INEC on the basis of Iwu’s alleged dual citizenship. Details

Iyabo Obasanjo Is Not Guilty, We Are. By  Akintokunbo A Adejumo

So, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, who after several months in hiding and playing hide and seek game with the EFCC, appeared before the courts and was granted bail. She then went to her Abeokuta city, her constituency as she now acknowledges, and was given a rousing welcome by some association or the other. The newspapers termed them “her kinsmen and women”. Details

The Yar'adua Regime And The Hand Over Notes Excuse. By Francis Adewale

According to This Day Newspapers, “365 days after the change of government, Yar'Adua has still not received any formal handover note around which his plans and actions can be anchored. The President has had to rely on the institutional memory of his Chief of Staff, Major General Muhammed Abdullahi (rtd) and Permanent Secretary, Aso Rock, Dr. Steve Oron-sanye, both of who also served under Obasanjo.” (emphasis mine). Details

“I May Live To Be Ninety”, Says The President. By Bala Muhammad

Alhamdu lillah! Ma sha Allah! Phew! There was a Federal sigh of relief across the nation Thursday night, Democracy Day, when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in a live television interview, allayed all fears about the state of his health (and the state of the health of the nation). There is nothing serious about his health, said the president, and certainly nothing to worry about. He stated that he is but a normal human being, with a tendency to fall ill, and become well. Details

That Attack on Fellow Africans in South Africa. By  Segun Imohiosen

The recent spate of xenophobic display, atrocious and hideous attack on the African Brothers in South Africa looking for survival is disappointing, discouraging and very barbaric. In a civilized world, in this time and age, it would be very difficult for anyone to believe that South Africa for all the experience of apartheid and their eventual freedom could condescend to engage in such prejudice and this absurd show of intolerance. Details

Pre-Paid Metering is Anti-Poor! By Joachim Ezeji

The result is that many Nigerians lack sustainable access to clean drinking water, and those for productive activities. The tragedy in all these is such that if sustainable water supply is a ladder in economic development with higher rungs representing steps up the path to economic well being, there are roughly 80% of households, three-quarter of Nigerians, who live lacking support to get a foot on the first rung of the development ladder. Details

Corruption: Not Anymore A Big Deal in Nigeria. By  Hakeem Babalola

Before I go in perspective, I’d like to share a recent experience. I recently visited the Nigeria embassy in Hungary. A senior colleague and one time National Union of Journalists’ President had arranged a meeting between a senior diplomat and I. It was a meeting I appreciated for, ever since I was embarrassed in 2001 when another senior diplomat ran away from an interview he had already agreed, I decided not to “trouble” them again. But when this opportunity came from someone I respect, I took it. It thus helps. Details

Fixed Price of Petrol Possible in Nigeria? By Emmanuel Y. Kwache

When the Editors of the Tell Nigeria’s Independent Weekly Magazine, No. 18, May 5, 2008 page 48 asked the Chairman of The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission his view and stake on Gas and flaring? “Which gas?”, the accomplished bureaucrat and technocrat asked in return. “ Nigeria does not have gas”, he revealed. The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), you people talk about is sold for 20 years to foreign companies operating in Nigeria. Details

Between Private Refineries and Access to Crude Oil Feedstock. By Ifeanyi Izeze

The problem with this country is that when we know the truth, we pretend by giving it another name to deceive not only other people but even ourselves. In this deceit, government and government people are the worst culprits. Details

Nigeria: A Nation With Zero Morality Index. By Abbas A. Dikko

Seeming abuse of ethical conduct, has become the bane of our men and people in government, years back, this had been embedded in our body system with immediate last eight years of Obasanjo’s democratic government scoring the highest percentage. Details

Niger Delta Militants Company Nigeria Limited: Articles of Association? By Ifeanyi Izeze Mischief, a major preoccupation of the human mind has been perfected by government and its people in Nigeria. This clearly manifests in the hidden tones of most government policies and pronouncements concerning the Niger Delta. Details

The Nigerian Financial Sector Aids and Abates Public Treasury Looting. By Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

Thus, left without sufficient checks and necessary monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, the Nigerian financial sector is like a Car with a broken Steering! The rest is the typical Nigerian “anything goes syndrome” - conniving at corruption and corrupt practices all in cut-throat and rat race competition in the sector at the expense of Nigeria’s own “bottom 100 million” (analogous to Paul Collier’s world’s “Bottom Billion”). Details

Beyond the Electoral Reforms. By Tony Ishiekwene

Over a year after, the man who shocked and awed Nigerians with that incredible shambles called election 2007, Prof Iwu, is still sitting pretty as the head of INEC and still churning out fraudulent election results in court-ordered re-run elections across the country. Details

Of ‘Diaspora Internet Warriors’ And Atiku’s Unchallenged Determination To Denaturalize Them All. By Wale Odusote

Much as I can understand why some people may not want to get involved in Atiku/AC’s scorched-earth battles with Prof. Iwu on the other fronts, this one about seeking to shut Diasporans out is way overly and thus expected to have ignited some vigorous response from the Nigerian Diaspora community.  Details

Global Food Crisis and Challenge to Nigeria. By Prince Nwaokugha Ikeokwu

Acknowledging the flaws of the past, to reconcile the current global food predicament, the present administration led by president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, took a proactive measure by outlining agriculture as one of its conceptual practical framework, to be tackled through the short, medium and long term, in line with his agenda and vision 2015 of curbing hunger and poverty to improve the lives of 140 million Nigerians. Details

A Perverted Value System. By Tochukwu Ezukanma

Franklin Roosevelt, that one of the greatest American presidents, once stated that “happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort”. To the average Nigerian, this statement will seem the prattling of an imbecile; it will elicit a scornful laughter. Interestingly, there was a time in Nigeria when these same words of Franklin Roosevelt would have struck a chord in Nigerian minds. That was before the oil boom.  Details

Fuel Prices Hike: Working People Must Resist This Onslaught. By Kola Ibrahim

What then is the government using Nigerian’s huge oil wealth to do? What has happened to the huge billions of Naira accruing from the wind fall on crude oil sale for the past three months of Yar’Adua’s government? Why is government planning to continue Obasanjo’s borrowing spree while billions are lying fallow in Nigeria’s coffer? Details

Almajiri: Beyond the Rhetorics. By Muhammad Mahmud

Damning, painful and totally unacceptable as the issue of beggars in the north is, the need to carefully and sincerely examine and appreciate the real problem should, as well, not be compromised. The hypocritical and demagogic approach to this problem will only fuel it as it has been doing before. Details