Yar'Adua's Rule of Law and Suit Against Obasanjo on  PTDF. By Ifeanyi Izeze

One billion Naira of PTDF fund was doled out to DICON to fund a project- naming a gun after the immediate past president - OBJ 006 and he is describing a suit asking him to explain the import of such project to hundreds of hunger-battered Nigerians as an academic exercise. Haba Eyawole! What has riffles got to do with petroleum technology development?  Details

 

Shekarau : Don't Answer Their Call , Only If ... By Shehu Mustapha Chaji

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau the only two term Executive Governor of Kano State , is a Man that is use to swim against tides. When he first emerge on the political scene before the 2003 elections, many political pundits listed him among the unserious contenders and suprisely he emerged victorious. So also during the 2007 elections against all odds breaking the traditional norm of not having second term in Kano Goverment House, Governor Shekarau broke the jinx ! And recently his supporters are calling on him to seek for the office of President of Nigeria in 2011. Details

 

Talakawan Kano and the fallacy of 'Rajamu'. By Saka Raji Audu

The home truth is that since God assisted Shekarau to break the much talked about the Kano political jinx on 14th April 2007 and sworn in on 29th May of the year, as second term elected people's governor of Kano State, his political opponents and some self centred journalists have never had any sound sleep. The toothless and sleepless oppositions that can bark but not bite are so worried and disturbed by the daily rising popularity of Shekarau in not only Kano but also the entire country, to the extent that his pocket enemies, though, empty vessels they are, would always cash on every available opportunity to cause commotion in the volatile political state of Kano. The recent reported case of stampede in emir's palace was not an exception. Details

 

Rumble in Kano Over Car Gifts. By Saka Raji Audu

Journalism is all about objectivity, and to go to equity, one must go with clean hands. The title as refers above is nothing but a fabricated fantastic story merely carried to 'rubbish' the good works of the people's governor. Gift is gift no matter who it is given and what amount of quantity that is given. But the main thing is the intention for that gift. To begin from the beginning, the objectivity of the two correspondents of the Weekly Trust that reported the above story is much in doubt. To treat a man like a man is not kindness but a natural right. The people's governor discovered the natural gift and potentials of the cars beneficiaries as helpful to his administration and any other administration for that matter and simply encouraged them. The reward of hard work spurs one to greater achievement. Thus, the beneficiaries of the car gift are not in isolation. Details

 

Aftermath: Visiting the Niger Delta Region. By Yushau Shuaib

After the anxiety and fear that gripped me before my official trip to the scary region of Niger Delta, I returned safely to my base in Abuja, without losing any part of my limbs or sense of sanity to faceless militants and kidnappers who have dent the image of peace-loving people of that part of Nigeria. At the instance of biannual meeting of the National Council on Information and Communication (NCIC) that held at Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, I was in the state between July and August 2008 and what I saw on ground erased some negative impressions about the development and the people in that region. Some expected delegates rather than take the risk of the trip to have a first hand experience about the environment, sent their representatives to the summit. Details

 

Why Nigeria and Not Just the North is Underdeveloped? By Francis Adewale

If you want to talk about wars and riots, it is as much a problem of the south as it is with the north. We all know about the full fledged war going on at the Niger-delta. Only the brave will bring investment and manufacturing companies to Ibadan where miscreants recently took control of the state government aided and abetted by their god father. Need we mention the macabre dance in Aba where allegiance to Okija shrine determines who gets to live and govern the state. At least the northern Nigeria leaders are talking about their problem. What is the south doing about the mass killing going on in the Niger Delta? When was the last time the fractured south addressed the problem between the Modakeke and Ife? Or the fratricidal war for the very soul of Warri by ethnic warlords. Details

 

Foreign Policy and President Yar’Adua’s Impending Cabinet Shake-Up. By Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

President Yar’Adua’s administration’s seven point agenda for Nigeria’s socio-economic and political transformation did not accord the nation’s foreign policy any special and or significant priority compared with the previous administration he succeeded. To date, no one has questioned this gap in the history of Nigeria’s foreign policy evolution and governance of Nigeria since independence.  Details

 

Bridging the Gap between the Haves and the Have-Nots: A Marxist Approach to the Political Economy of Nigeria. By Joshua Ocheja

In the contemporary Nigerian society, the gap between the Haves and the Have-nots is seemingly on the increase. This could to an extent be attributed to greed, corruption in high places and other acts inimical to the interest of this country. Like I earlier posited, the Economic policies of the government and its resources are veritable tools for its prosperity. A country that lacks good governance is heading towards extinction. On the other hand, a country with the aforementioned features, dictates the global economy. Details

 

When a Bank Asks You to Do the Near Impossible. By Sylva Nze Ifedigbo

For a greater majority of those who banks recruit, their job description can be summarized in one word: Marketing. In simple terms, this describes the sum total of activities aimed at raising money for the bank. Usually, you are recruited, trained and then pushed out into the streets to do what ever you can to raise money for the bank-to meet a given target. In this job, all is fair. Here, ethics or morality doesn’t count. Details

 

Much Ado About Cabinet Reshuffles – The season of Insanity All Over Again as Nigeria Clocks 48. By  Bunmi Awoyemi, Ph.D.

The local governments and local development centers across the nation are well known to be centers where local treasury looters congregate to share the national monthly allocation cake from Abuja as well as illegal taxes collected by force from individuals and corporate bodies. The Nigerian constitution should be amended speedily to scrap this third tier of government that engages in a colossal waste of the nation's meager financial resources. Details

 

Rethinking Nigeria. By Chido Onumah

The government’s response to the Niger Delta crisis is, of course, emblematic of problem solving in Nigeria. Rather than doing what will move the country forward, we are too often mired in anachronistic responses that serve little or no purpose. Recently, some governors under the auspices of Northern  Details

 

Governor Shekarau And Human Development In Kano (I). By Shehu Khaleel

The issue of pensioners was seen as the most controversial issue before the coming of Shekarau administration. These pensioners served this beloved state diligently and tirelessly for more than 30-years but denied their legitimate right. Many of them died without collecting their lawful entitlements of pension allowances. Details

 

The  Mbeki/Zuma War: A Case Study For Nigerians. By Musa Ilallah

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Mbeki/Zuma war is in so many respects similar to the Obasanjo/Atiku war. The circumstances are the same. So are also the issues at stake and the charges involved. It is a well known fact that President Obasanjo did all he could to strangulate the ambition of his Deputy, Atiku to succeed him in office after serving his constitutionally mandate of two terms of 8 years in office. Details

 

The Bravery And Agony Of Dialysis Patients. By Farouk Martins Aresa

The fact that the President came on television to declare that he was sick, though late, is enough. Africans, by culture hardly declare their ailments. In this case, it seems we want to know every detail before his hospital admission: how many times a day he coughed, how many hours he slept, if his eyes were close or open and who donated what organ. Details

 

World Igbo Congress: A Jamboree in a Foreign Land. By Ikechukwu A. Ogu

Many Nigerians have criticized the modus operandi of the WIC, and justifiably so, branding it a jamboree and calling for an end to it. I make haste to associate myself with them. The organizers of the Congress should rather visit Igboland, find out the challenges our communities face and task themselves with tackling such. Details

 

Kano: Why I Defend Malam? By Saka Raji Audu

Among the five elected governor so far in Kano beginning from the first elected governor of the state, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Rimi, the present one, Malam Shekarau is the only one that has carved niche for himself and to the admiration of his people. As Malam, he is dignified. As civil servant, he calls a spade a spade. And now, as a politician, he knows the dynamics of power. Details

 

Kano Government and the Purchase of Royal Jeeps. By  Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi

Of recent there are spates of write-ups on the activities of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau led government of Kano State. What triggered the sudden interest came about due to morally unjust, financially profligate, politically unwise and religiously reprehensible purchase of jeeps to traditional rulers, emirate council members and ulemas that cost the state a whopping 1.6 billion Naira. Details

 

Urban Renewal & Street Trading In Lagos. By  Tochukwu Ezukanma

Nobody is questioning the presence of bad elements, even downright criminals amongst them. However, are there not thieves within the Nigerian Police Force; pettifoggers given to lying for a pittance among Nigerian lawyers; coldhearted doctors, whose negligence repeatedly result in avoidable deaths, in our hospitals; electoral fraudsters, murderers and crooks among the politicians? So, going by their distorted logic, what should we do? Disband the Nigerian police force, abolish the practice of law in Nigeria, proscribe the medical profession, and dismantle the entire political process in Nigeria? Of course, their argument is nonsense; staggering, stupendous nonsense. Details