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Nigeria: Corruption As A Consequence Of Greed. By Akintokunbo A Adejumo In a way, I could not help but have some sympathy for the men and women of the Nigeria Police Force. They work very long hours; in fact they do not seem to have any laid down working hours or pattern. They are very poorly and irregularly paid and their pay is not commensurate with the risks they are supposed to take in a country beset by sophisticatedly equipped armed robbers and militants, while their bosses are carting away billions of Naira, and strutting around and making merry in the Police Officers Mess. Details
Privatize Major Industries To Boast Jobs & Skills. By Farouk Martins, Omo Aresa The battle line has been drawn. It is the private ventures that are daring the management and workers of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to capitalize on just concluded Turn Around Maintenance of Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries to increase production capacity to 80% before the end of the year. Details
The Federal Government Should Reverse The Sale Of Ap Shares. By Jide Ayobolu There is no doubt whatsoever that the so called privatization exercise under the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo is fraught with all kinds of sharp practices, shady deals and under-the-table-practices. It was for these reasons for instance, that the sale of the Port-Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to questionable group known as bluestar was summarily reversed by the Umaru Yar’Adua’s government. Details
Sambo’s Faltering Steps. By Ishaq Alhassan Qauranmata Very few people will dispute the fact that, in Kaduna state, the last eight years were characterized by extreme deceit, dictatorship and the elevation of mediocrity, in form of blind loyalty, to a state craft. The civil service was traumatized, disorientated and reduced to a shadow of its once vibrant self. The political class was effectively sidelined and intimidated into submissiveness while the entire citizenry was pauperized. Details
It is now clear that President Umaru Musa Yar’adua has started taking bold steps to return Nigeria to the path of progress and development and preserving its corporate entity. As at today, President Yar’adua has proved to the whole world that he is not just a stooge of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Details
Is Nigeria’s National Unity Government Made Less Credible By The Arrest Of Orji Kalu-A Key Player? By Attorney Aloy EjimakorAs I write this essay, there is an ongoing debate amongst Nigerians in Diaspora, aroused to speak up by the sudden resurgence of prosecutorial zeal which saw to the recent detention of PPA presidential candidate, Orji Kalu amidst President Yar’Adua’s dicey maneuverings to win support of key opposition figures for his multi-party ‘government of national unity’ or ‘GNU’. Details
Poor Okonjo-Iweala, Poor Adeniji. By Hakeem Babalola According to reports, Okonjo Iweala was ordered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja to refund over #140m to the federal coffers being excess salary paid to her in dollars during the last regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. Adeniji in a similar manner must cough #64m. No doubt the duo are on the horns of a dilemma, because this is a huge amount especially as a salary refund.... My question is this: is it their fault? Whose fault is it then? Because Okonjo-Iweala and Adeniji have to cough up a huge amount of money unless the Supreme Court comes to their immediate rescue. Damn it, it’s a chicken change for Nigerian ministers. Details
A Yearning for Security. By Abdullah Musa There is a fundamental flaw in the sociological setting of Nigeria. We refuse to acknowledge the destructive effects of feeding from the sweat or the hands of other people. We are not engaged much in production, our efforts particularly in the cities are in distribution and services. The danger is not in that per se. The danger is in poor or meager returns to petty traders. Details
Jigawa: Is Lamido on Sound Footing? By Sani Ibrahim Taura The inauguration of new government in Jigawa state under Alhaji Sule Lamido as its governor on the May 29, 2007 is seen by many as a new vista of opportunity for those who felt sidelined or at least not perfectly integrated into the "new world's" political leadership. But to those who already sought for a change of style of leadership, this unique opportunity is a God-given gift to them being old breeds of the defunct NEPU-PRP political cum ideological clique. Details
Lamido Aliyu Musdafa: 54 Years on the Throne. By Mohammed Zayyad Born in 1922, Dr Aliyu Musdafa was turbaned as the 11th Lamido of Adamawa on 26th July 1953; he received the staff of office from Governor Sir Bryan Sherwood - Smith of the British colonial Administration. Nearly two centuries after the creation of Adamawa Emirate, tremendous changes have occurred in the Emirate’s landmass Details
Ode to Nelson Mandela @ 89. By Joachim Ezeji Eight scores plus nine can never be trivial in the life of any man. This is particularly true if the bulk of such a lifespan is dedicated to unblemished service and embellished with humility. That was the life of Africa’s leading elder statesman Nelson Mandela. It was indeed a bumper celebration for Nelson Mandela, on Wednesday, 18th July 2007 as he marked his 89th birthday and ninth anniversary of marriage to former Mozambican first lady Gracia Machel. Details
Non-oil Producing States and Growing Socio-Economic Crisis. By Murtala S. Sagagi PhD Many believe that culture plays a significant role in underdevelopment. This could be true where leaders promote backward thinking and failed to advance strategic thinking. Northern states in Nigeria have a unique problem of resource misapplication and lack of policy direction while the South eastern states are bedeviled with massive corruption and crime. Details
Political Assassination in Sokoto: Our View. By Isa N. The perception given by media reports which repeatedly suggest that a clash between Sunni and Shia groups in Sokoto led to the death of a cleric. Another report suggests that Members of the Islamic Movement are the prime suspects, thereby deliberately making the whole issue to be seen as a religious crisis between two religious groups. Details
Curtailing Abuse Of Our Law By Foreigners. By G. A. Rotiba Nigeria as a member of the United Nations has signed several treaties and agreements on according respect to foreigners likewise, the foreigners and their investments operate within the ambit of the law. Foreigners may have freedom but not to abuse the privileges in unnecessary involvement in shady deals capable of tarnishing their reputation, investment that may likely lead to deportation. The attention of the government of Nigeria is hereby drawn to an issue that could be classified as corrupt practices the main crusade be embarked upon by the immediate past administrations and now inherited by the present administration of president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
Shell Vs Ogoni: Between Kukah And MOSOP. By Ifeanyi Izeze From all indications, the collapse of confidence in Rev Fr Hassan Kukah’s mediation in Ogoni is now complete. MOSOP which once welcomed him on the believe that at least he was better than any previous facilitator is now praising the good old effort of Justice Okwudifu Oputa- headed Reconciliation Panel which it said was more transparent in dealing with the Ogoni/Shell crisis. Details
Saminu Turaki: A Victim Of His Own Antics. By Musa Ilallah Jubilation was the in-thing in almost all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria’s new world, called Jigawa state recently when news filtered that their former elected governor of eight years has been picked up by EFCC operatives in his sleep in Abuja to face trial for defrauding their state treasury of billions of naira. Details
Diezani Allison-Madueke and Her Media Campaign. By Dr. Oyateidor Ebifiri Harriman To be clear, there is nothing new about the tricks and tactics of the Mr. and Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s camp. Yellow and cash-journalism has been a staple of Nigerian journalism for a very long time -- save that in recent years, it has assumed a new dimension. What one found in both paid-jobs were lots of half-truths, embellishments and hyperboles. Details
It is Time to Legalize Corruption. By Sabella Ogbobode Abidde If Obasanjo, Abubakar Atiku and several other high ranking officials are not arrested and prosecuted for their crimes, then it would be unjust to prosecute armed robbers and other petty thieves. Why prosecute drug dealers and prostitutes and money launderers when the Ubas, the Odilis, the Tinubus and scores of others are allowed to roam free and free from arrest and prosecution. Details
Hence, if Daily Trust Newspaper can have the professional temerity to label Guarantee Trust Bank as managers who “want to court public sympathy by portraying themselves as a set of do-gooders”, then one can also label Daily Trust and its publishers as unprofessional and unethical media house who engage in not only irresponsible transaction but also any kind of junk business provided the money is right. Details
Children Who Prefer Foreign Slavery Than Rot At Home. By Farouk Martins A report pointed to a lucrative business in Lagos where children were employed by some unscrupulous men to beg on the streets. They were dropped to certain locations in the morning and picked up at night when they would deliver the money collected. It sounded strange to many of us but also true. The only reason it worked was because these kids are brought from strange places and taken to unfamiliar areas where they can not negotiate their ways. As they get used to the areas, locations are changed. Detail
Yar’Adua: A Restructuring Agenda For The Customs. By Atâyi Babs Opaluwah That the Nigerian Custom Service has been overtaken by criminal cartels and other obnoxious syndicates may not appear strange to many Nigerians who are daily inundated with tales of the extraordinary wealth at the disposal of the officers and men of the Nigerian Custom Service and the fabulous future that awaits anyone who picks up a career in the service. Details
Dangote: Paying the Price of Patriotism. By Kabiru Mohammed As a strong admirer of Dangote, a heir to a vast and extremely rich mercantilist tradition of the famous Al-Hassan Dantata Family, I took exception at the way some of our respected columnist took it upon themselves the responsibility to castigates and condemn an enterprising business mogul; simply because he used the opportunity of being closer to the power that be to his greatest advantage, in an era of intense business competition, globalization, free market economy and monopoly etc. Details
They First Break The Law. By Yakubu Maitalata Kwassam Thus, I witnessed how an “Araba” (as they are popularly called) could be cruel and gallantly fight his way defying the voice of reason. I equally saw the risk of being a law enforcement agent. I became inquisitive. I decided to ask the driver why he could not obey the FRSC staff’s directive to stop. He gave this quip reply “They first break the law.” What a puzzling reply! Details
EFCC, Please Probe Udenwa Too! By Joachim Ezeji Senator Nzeribe had insisted in his letter to then President Obasanjo and the EFCC that Chief Udenwa was corrupt and was not fit for any high political office such as the senate. He had quoted Nuhu Ribadu’s statement on the floor of the senate copiously. He had insisted that Udenwa was one of those corrupt governors. Details
Obasanjo’s Unfinished Monkey Businesses. By Dan Azumi Kofarmata Believing in his own powers and an acrobatic ability to interpret the Nigerian Constitution, laws and rules in his favour, ex-president Obasanjo is out there creating all sorts of mischief. Having gotten satisfied with the results of his “do or die” political battlefield “victory” over Nigerians Details
In Nigeria, Yar’Adua Reigns, Obasanjo Rules. By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye As the nation’s opinion moulders weep and beg Obasanjo to, please, take his retirement in good faith and quickly dump himself in the unedifying company of failed leaders where he ought to feel very comfortable, and allow Yar’Adua free hand to conduct the affairs of the nation, what none of them appears to be asking is whether Yar’Adua himself is even desirous and eager to be rid of the overbearing influence of Obasanjo? Details
Ending Youth Restiveness in Bayelsa. By Maxwell James However, despite all these great wealth creating opportunities, the state has been mired in an acme of unmitigated and traumatic crises of absurd proportion. These ugly scenarios gave birth to hostage taking, pipeline vandalisation, closure of flow stations and a general sense of insecurity in the state and other part of the oil rich region with the snowballing consequences of enormous revenue loss, human and economic sacrifices. Bayelsa today is agonizingly a story of a rich but poor state. Details
Fuel crisis: A first challenge to Yar’Adua's Servant-Leadership. By Baba El-Yakubu The Nigerian factor must be analyzed and consider properly in estimating a fair price for the products. The servant-leader is holding the whole country as a trust for the citizens. Therefore, competent stewardship means that the president will use all in his power to ensure efficient resource distributions, optimal input to refineries, efficient process operations and lowest possible price of the refined products. Details
The Nigerian General Election, 2007: Some Pertinent Issues. By Danboyi Gomsuk Since the generality of Nigerians seem not to see anything evil in that election and have come to accept it as an added bitter pill they will have to swallow we shall look up to the various courts of law in the country for succour and salvation. Even the traditional rulers, the so-called custodians of our customs and values, seem not to see anything wrong in the illegitimate enthronement of Yar’Adua as the nation’s president. Details
Atiku Abubabar Can Still Be President. By Emmanuel Y. Kwache The elections were variously dismissed by local and foreign observers as flawed, a charade fraudulent and in fact the worst in the annals of this country’s electoral history. Atiku Abubakar and his counsels are asking the tribunal to invalidate INEC’S declaration of Yar’adua/Goodluck as President because the election that produced them was riddled with corrupt practices, did not comply with the provisions of Electoral Act 2006,and because Umar Yar’adua was not elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the elections. What else do we need? Our judges have a date with history. There is nothing impossible. Atiku Abubakar could still be President this Year. Don’t doubt it. Details
The Return of Baba Gana Kingibe. By Ubanese Nwanganga Kingibe’s attitude in pursing power from all available angles has become the vogue in Nigeria. In Kwara state, the Sarakis have pocketed the state. All over the country, those who cornered our resources for eight years are not done yet. They are either in the senate or are gunning for ministerial appointment. They must remain relevant in the looting of the country. Details
Beyond Promises: Sovereignty Should Have Economic Content. By Salihu Moh. Lukman For the ordinary Nigerian, the issue is basically prayerful; i. e. may the administration be able to deliver the basics of life. Whatever speeches, policies pronouncements, programmes, projects or, in the understanding of this category of Nigerians, grammar, let it translate to jobs, income and eventually food, shelter and clothing. The perception is that some policies and programmes of the departing administration should be halted if this is to happen. Details
As the Presidential Election Tribunal Resumes Sitting. By Nuhu Shuaib As the Presidential Election Tribunals resumes sitting, Nigerians in all walks of life should encourage the tribunals to give us the best that has been associated with the judiciary of recent. We can not afford to retrogress after so much progress. We can encourage them in several ways in the same manner as they can be discouraged from discharging their duties. Details
Nigerian Politicians In Public Office To Be Millionaires & Billionaires, A Food For Thought. By Dr. Wumi Akintide If Corruption is ever going to be wrestled to the ground, our new President has his job cut out for him. Trying to accommodate traditional rulers by creating a Federal House of Chiefs in addition to the bi-camera House could be good as a sound bite appeasement only. Details
Islamic Nigeria versus Chile at FIFA U 20 Cup: A Rejoinder. By Faruk Buba It is generally true that no game like football unite Nigerians especially during international competitions. I have been supporting all Nigerian teams for a long time irrespective of the composition of the team. However, I was saddened and wept for my nation after reading an article written by Ehi Aimuwu who is apparently living in the United States of America. Details
Decongesting Nigeria's Ports To Attract More International Trade. By Anthony Okosun It is no news to say that organisation and management of Nigeria's ports and the transportation system in Nigeria generally is a disaster. The ports are lumpishly and corpulently inadequate. Paper work that are cardinal and vanilla to export and import are fearsomely voluminous and could take months for what would take a day or two in properly harmonised and regulated societies. Talk about the road network and rail network that support the sea ports, you would realise that Nigeria is still what it is, a bewilderingly and discomfortingly third world country. Details
Ajaokuta: Beyond the Sentiments. By Abdullah Musa At the height of the power of late General Sani Abacha, I met one propagandist who had cause to extol the virtues of the General. He had this to say about the then Nigeria’s foreign debt: duk an biya! He meant that all had been paid. I was incredulous! Completely paid? Yes, he affirmed, completely paid. He was matching his words with both a facial expression of utmost faith, and the brushing of palms to show emptiness. (Of the debt burden) I wanted to elicit from him the process followed to settle the debts, but he brushed me off, it was of no significance. We were later to learn after some years of the Abacha Loot! Details
Amaechi Vs. Omehia: Between Immunity Clause And PDP’s Truancy In Rivers. By Senior Fyneface Is it possible for the EFCC to indict Amaechi for corruption and grant Odili a clean bill? Who actually received and disbursed the state funds throughout the eight-year rule- Amaechi or Odili? Did members of the former Rivers State Legislature at any time formally complained of fraud or mismanagement of funds allocated for legislative duties? Answers to these questions would help situate the Amaechi-Omehia saga in proper context. Details
DÉJÀ VU (2): The Wisdom of Our Elders and Their Curses. By Adebayo Adejare Now, the 1983 General Election were the most controversial election in Nigeria’s history. The Ruling Party National Party of Nigeria (NPN) retained the Presidency but also routed out the opposition from their traditional bases. The most controversial of all the states elections were Ondo and Anambra. Details
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