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MONDAY QUARTER-BACKING: Governor Soludo and the CBN. By Mobolaji E. Aluko, Ph.D. (GAMJI WRITER) I
am not a banker by any stretch of the imagination – so that makes two of us,
that is Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo (the new governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria CBN) and I. Of
course, he is an economist – but economics is largely applied common sense.
IBB: The Man is Still Standing. Max Gbanite (GAMJI) “The return of Evil,” “The sins of IBB,” “IBB: Road to Perdition,” and “Can we trust this man, IBB?” are titles and subtitles used recently to describe former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, mni. These obviously ill-intended essays and similar missiles stream into the media on a somewhat regular basis since it became apparent that the enigmatic and amiable leader will undoubtedly play an active role in the upcoming elections of 2007. God willing, regardless of how far the poison pens push, we will soon find out whether the retired general would participate as a candidate for the chairmanship of his local government area, for the governorship of his home state, or for the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Details
In the Eye of the Storm: The Rise and Dramatic Fall of Saddam Hussein. By Shehu Usman Abdullahi (GAMJI) Mixed
reactions greeted both the capture of the deposed Iraqi leader on
Fahrenheit 911 Like the 911 Commission Speaks Volumes About America. By Dr. Wunmi Akintide (GAMJI) When
it comes to turning huge disappointments and terrible tragedies into
appointments and huge opportunities,
Is IBTC’s Atedo Peterside A Clog in Saludo’s Wheel? By Banjo Odutola (GAMJI) There is a lot of work ahead of the new CBN Chief and I would like to suggest a few tasks that he must embark on immediately. Firstly, during the on-going debate – he should make no public pronouncements. If he does, he may regret it. Secondly, he needs a good media relations-person to expound his “thoughts” and his objectives must be taken to the common-man on the streets. Details
Arab
Evil Deeds: (GAMJI) The
Igbo desire to part from
When Was Nigeria's Third Republic? By Prof. Mike Ikhariale (GAMJI) I
have followed the republican misfortunes of
A
Thought for Nigeria's South-South. (GAMJI) I had began to be saddened at the state of the South-south, feeling that its leaders where not sufficiently mindful of the people of the zone, when it was widely reported that Obong Victor Attah, had at the meeting were a successor to Dikibo was produced called out for the South-south to champion the cause of exposing the killers of Harry and Dikibo. These men were not from Akwa-Ibom, the state which is governed by Obong Victor Attah. They were from Rivers. But ask yourself, when has Dr. Odili ever advocated for these men in death? Details
(GAMJI) Kano State is the most populous state in Northern Nigeria. When the state under the leadership of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was forced by popular demand to follow the Zamfara State example of reforming the legal system to incorporate certain aspects of Shari’ah Criminal Law as interpreted by the Maliki School of Islamic Law there was widespread apprehension by those who do not support the Shari’ah. Details
Igbo Presidency: Not Now, Not Later, Unless a True Solidarity is Established. By Dr. Sylvester Omosun Fadal (GAMJI) I posit that there will not be an Igbo presidency now, later or in the near future unless the Igbos wake up and build a solidarity union with a true common language of focus, goals, and linguistic thinking that must become evident through their actions. Details
(GAMJI) Professor Soyinka is not famous for the number of houses and cars or girlfriends, he is not famous for earthly material possessions, he is famous instead, for his selflessness, for his intellectual dexterity and for remaining a rebel with a cause, even after all these years! Details
Wole Soyinka, the Nigerian intellectual and the Nigerian society. By Ibiyinka Solarin (GAMJI) For the purpose of clarity, perhaps, we ought to try to grasp what an intellectual is. The person of letters? The one that carries on with a pompous air of affected knowledge? The bearded eccentric? The one that obfuscates and mystifies instead of explaining and making it clear? The one that ‘blows grammar’, dogo turenchi? The prof? Details
Northerners Wake Up !!! By Samuel Peter Aruwan (GAMJI) It is really sad and disheartening seeing our Northern brothers killing, maiming, and destroying properties worth millions of Naira of each other. Details
(GAMJI) The
events in
Comments
on Soludo's Consolidation of the Nigerian Banking Industry From the foregoing it is obvious that the Governor has identified the major problems of the banking system and also set the proper objectives for the reforms that are needed. The only problem is the prescription. I believe that an eclectic approach is what we need rather than a single prescription. Details
The Nigerian Politician, A Three Course Meal Of Deceit, Lies and Plenty of Magic. By Prince Charles (GAMJI) I
know of a State that has 23 Ministries, another one has a Commissioner
of Information, Director of Press, Deputy Director of Press, Personal
Assistant on Public Relations, Senior Special Assistant on Media and
then a Media Consultant. All political jobbers.
Environmental
Health in (GAMJI) The position of Environmental Health Officers in Primary Health Care [PHC] has been hijacked by medical health practitioners [Most especially medical doctors], whom their professional orientation centred wholly on curative health, thus they are not giving any attention to the preventive aspect of health due to their poor knowledge on environmental health. Details
The
North, the Middle Belt and Today,
I am going to be rude. And about time too. A few days ago, Solomon Lar, Walin
Langtang, former governor of
Presidency
Recalls all C-of-Os in (GAMJI) As
regards this Abuja-land brouhaha, it is unfortunate that it has come to
this, but if
NAFDAC and Sabon Gari Market Invasion. By Sani Garba (GAMJI) What is NAFDAC plan concerning other unregistered food, drinks, canned food etc, does only drugs is the target, because they [drinks etc] too are equally necessary to be checked, for they too are potential poison[s] like drugs and pose a great threat to the human and even animal lives. Details
Igbo: Dating Yoruba but Marrying Hausa/Fulani. By Tunde Adenodi (GAMJI) First of all, the Yoruba, led by late Bola Ige, formed the vanguard of the main opposition to Abacha’s tyranny in what was called NADECO. Then they joined with Solomon Lar, Ekwueme and others to form the PDP. Seeing that this group included those whom he perceived as pseudo-democrats whom he was not comfortable with, he joined with Shinkafi to form the APP. Details
Abuja : Light Rail Transit is an absolute Necessity. By Dr. Sylvester Omosun Fadal (GAMJI) Rather
than asking for light rail transit services to be implemented in all the
major cities in
The Time is Ripe to Welcome Ekwueme Back to the People’s Democratic Party. By Dr. Chidi Uzoma (GAMJI) In
the final analysis, certainly, the likes of Ekwueme give joy in
observing their political demeanour, whether one belongs to PDP or not.
Hence they are a pride to any political nation. It is on this
note that this writer wishes to join in celebrating the return of a
father of
ICT in Nigeria: More than Just a Jamboree. By Okpanku Chidi Okpanku (GAMJI) Perhaps someday, one will be able to broadcast lecture and seminars, using Digital Video Broadcasting. And gradually we will even communicate at the speed of thought. In spite of the limitations of time and space. The journey to this utopia future begins today. As we take communication more seriously, as a necessity and not just a jamboree. Details
The Polio Epidemic in Nigeria: A Public Health Emergency. By Chidi Chike Achebe MD, MPH When
asked by a journalist whether
Saddam
Hussein Trial By Carpet Baggers;
And American Claptrap Policies Implications In (GAMJI) The
proposed trial of Mr. Saddam Hussein is worrisome, the trial that is being
planned by the newly minted “sovereign” national government, is worrisome,
to say the least. Newly minted government of
Obasanjo’s
African Union Presidency: A new impetus to the (GAMJI) President
Olusegun Obasanjo was announced on
HEALTH
INTERACTIVE WITH DR. AMINU MAGASHI Water for Injection and NAFDAC (GAMJI WRITER) The war against unsafe water for Injection certainly is not only for NAFDAC, but all of us in the health and other sectors and the entire public, we must be vigilant while buying brands in pharmacy shops and in the markets, we must inculcate the habit of asking the brand and seeing the lavel to make sure, it is certified and registered. Details
PEOPLE & POLITICS The Middle Belt: the facts, the fictions (GAMJI WRITER) Over three years ago the late Chief Bola Age visited Taraba State, not as the minister of justice and attorney general of the federation that he then was, but as an Alliance for Democracy chieftain; ... During the struggle, Ige said, Awo worked hand in glove with the likes of “Senator Joseph Tarka, Joseph Olawoyin, Reverend David Lot, Joshua Zagi Dass, John Adeyebe and Gaius Gilama”. Ige then told his audience that the time was now ripe to re-visit the case for the Middle-Belt. Ige did not define the boundary of his new Middle Belt, but from his list of Awo’s comrades-in-arm in the struggle for the sub-region, it was clear that Ige’s Middle-Belt was wherever Christian minorities were predominant in the North. Otherwise, Ige would have remembered to include in his list anti-Establishment Muslim Northerners like Raji Abdallah from the old Kwara Province and Abubakar Zukogi from the Niger Province. Details
An Open Letter to the President: The Golden Future, The Promise of our New Generation, Must Start Now. We Cannot Wait! By Uchenna Akwiwu (GAMJI) It is with the greatest humility and respect that I write you this letter, Mr. President. I do so in a public forum with the hope that I might inspire debate and dialogue about the direction in which this country is headed. I write this letter, knowing that, if I met you, I might stutter and be nervous in your presence. You have an enormous history and legacy, of which few leaders can match, here or abroad. Details
The Necessity for Socio-Economic Change in Nigeria. By Jazuli A. Lawal (GAMJI) Nigeria as a nation with ethnic diversity and great natural endowment, has been struggling to stand on its feet for so many years now. It is unbelievable that, Nigeria will find itself in this kind of socio-political crisis today. With the current situation of political unrest, economic hardship, ethnic confrontations, insecurity and Proliferations of poverty, one can conclude that all hope is now lost when compared with our past experience in the mid seventies. Details
Death in Large Doses. By Kevin Etta Jr. (GAMJI) The economy is on track – despite spiraling unemployment. The economy is on track, despite degradation of real incomes of Nigerian workers resulting from skyrocketing inflation. Despite inability of consumers to drive the economy due to a woeful lack of purchasing power the economy is still on track. Details
Still on the Police and Check Points. By Ibrahim Dan-Halilu (GAMJI) One has every reason to plea over and over again to the Inspector General of Police to revise his policy of mounting road blocs along our federal highways. The more one tries to understand the policy the more confused one becomes because it seems the policy is not serving the people. The other day, the IGP was answering questions from journalists on the same issue, Mr. Tafa Bologun has denied ever directing his men and women to mount any roadblock or check points along our highways. Details
El-Rufa'is Demolition Exercise: Issues and Observations for Policy. By Hassan Garba (GAMJI) I must commend the Honorable Minister for his honesty
Government
To be an Umuahian is very unique. Being born in Umuahia does not make one an Umuahian, but simply , a native of Umuahia. To be an Umuahian, you must be a student or Old Boy of Government College Umuahia. Details
Fuel Price Increase: The Confusion, the Deception and the Lies. By Ibrahim Dan-Halilu (GAMJI) One
may want to ask a very pertinent question.
What is the pre-February price of petrol in
Obasanjo to Pick Next President. By Sam Nda-Isaiah (GAMJI) If the president could pick the Senate President the way he did last year and nothing happened, why won’t he pick the next president? Almost all the governors, Senators and all “elected” people of the South South, South East and South West were picked by the president and they didn’t need to go through the rigours of any elections. Details
Is Nigeria Worth Dying For? By Sabella O. Abidde (GAMJI) For
much of its existence as a nation-state,
Sharia Implementation in Kano State. By Mamman Lawan Yusufari (GAMJI) The
return to civil rule in
Plateau Crisis: The Issue of Indigene/Settler Dichotomy. By Bernard Doro (GAMJI) A lot has been said on the recent crisis that engulfed the Plateau which culminated to the declaration of a state of emergency, suspension of democratic structures and the appointment of a sole administrator in the State for an initial period of six months. This piece is not to add to such comments, but to X-ray the issue of Indigene/Settler dichotomy which is currently being debated nationally with reference to Plateau state. Details
The
Problem with (GAMJI) Nigeria is now a country where one achieves success in government by doing the destructive biddings of foreign agencies such as the IMF and World Bank. In order to be successful and rewarded, one has to auction off state assets, destroy the only chance of industrialization (steel production at Ajaokuta), remove petroleum subsidy or create an artificial crisis in the banking sector. Details
Learning
the Hard Way: the American Invasion of (GAMJI) Paul
Bremer,
Is Saddam Hussein's Trial Legitimate? By Abdulsalam Olatubosun Ajetunmobi (GAMJI) I opposed the American-led war against Iraq not because I doubted the torrent of reports about the trauma of Saddam’s dictatorship nor the allegations that his reign caused tremendous sufferings for Iraqis, but rather because I thought that there was a serious inconsistency in American policy towards the War on Terror and weapons of mass destruction plus the fact that the diplomatic mean had not been thoroughly exhausted before the war was launched. Details
OIL: Prize or Curse, An International Quagmire? By Chidi Chike Achebe MD, MPH and Paul R. Epstein MD, MPH (GAMJI) It is hard these days to think about oil. Images of explosions, war, mangled bodies, blood stained streets, hostages, oil spills, polluted beaches and dead birds and fish are not pleasant. But since so many of the world's ills stem from drilling this ''black gold,'' a review of its multifarious impacts helps narrow in on solutions that could change our course. Details
Baloney
And Hopeless (GAMJI) Are Nigerians hopelessly devoted to democracy or are they miserably created to die in silence in a supposedly democratic environment? Is it possible for Nigerian leaders to make intelligent decisions about the eroding state of affairs in the country if they don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudo-democracy and the benefits of true democracy? Details
Mr. Soludu And The
N25billion Minimum Capitalization. (GAMJI) It did not come as surprise to keen observers of the unfolding political economics of the country. I have said it before that the economy has now been handed to the World Bank and its surrogates to do as they like, because one of the condition of IMF is modernization of the banking system to be in line with globalization. Globalization as Mr. Soludo wants us to believe is suppose to be for our own benefit, but as we all know it is the method of capturing emerging markets for the big players. Details
(GAMJI) With the way NEPA operates today in Nigeria, AIDS is probably not the greatest threat to Nigeria, but rather the greatest threat is the erroneous medical diagnostics based on readings from Electro-medical equipments that operate under inappropriate electricity supply. Details
Buhari Versus IBB: Nobody Lied. By Paul Mamza (GAMJI WRITER) With the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President, many People believed that IBB renewed tenure with the power-house by his unflinching clamour for Obasanjo’s presidency by facilitating a smooth hand-over through IBB’s protégé in person of General Abdulsalami Abubakar – General Abacha’s successor. But one fact is certain that both Buhari and IBB were the best of friends. Details
HEALTH INTERACTIVE WITH DR AMINU MAGASHI Polio Outbreak: Visiting Rogo L.G.A. (GAMJI WRITER) In
our bewilderment, upon all the media hype by IRIN
NEWS that WHO is investigating the suspected cases and the visitation of
the two people as reported by Daily Trust, the stool samples of the
children were not taken for investigation and verification .
Only one of them told us that
a form was given to him to come to the Murtala
Mohammed Specialist Hospital in
Polio: W.H.O.’s False Alarm. By Ahmed Gana (GAMJI) The
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported on
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