Comments & Issues

THE Nigerian Press like their counterparts world over belong to the elite group referred to as the Fourth Estate of the Realm. Nigerian Press has over the years represented different things to different people depending on where one stands
During the fight against the 3rd term bid of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, their resolve to defend their Estate was unshaken. A few other situations have arisen where they said no to mediocrity, preferring to save Nigeria and its sovereignty but at other occasions, they caved in like any other realm in Nigeria.

NEW YORK  Who were those flag-waving, cheering, hollering, singing, and praying Americans who gathered in Washington DC on the last Saturday in August at a rally to “restore the honor” of the United States? This tax-free jamboree of patriotism was ostensibly non-partisan (otherwise it could not have been tax-free). The main organizer and speaker was Glenn Beck, the right-wing populist radio and TV personality, who promised to restore not only the nation's honor, but “American values,” too.

WORRIED by the stiff-neckedness of the Jews, Jesus exhorted them to at least believe in his works if they found it difficult to believe in him.
This is exactly what obtains in Enugu State where Gov. Sullivan Iheanacho Chime is at the helm of affairs as the governor.
On assumption of office nobody, especially the politicians, believed that Chime would perform because to them, Chime was not a politician but a technocrat who only knew about law and adjudication and nothing else.  There was fear that Chime may not be capable of handling the politicians. People had preferred a known politician who had held one political office or the other in the past but not a tacit lawyer who could hardly raise his voice beyond his sitting room to the inner room.

ONE thing is clear in Nigeria of today. The mere fact that a large chunk of Nigerians are more politically-conscious, talking about politics, reflecting on the past, criticizing our political blocs and gangsterism, and identifying banes of our development is a clear indication that we are close to our desired greatness.

This topic has been chosen because of declarations of interest in the race to the presidency in 2011. Many are declaring. Many are waiting and yet to declare. But to me, only one powerful contender has clearly shown up. Those who have shown interest for the race are just very few in number as compared to the past. What it really portrays is that our democracy is still under siege. There are still indices that our democracy and those who are supposed to be democratic frontiers in the country have not been liberal. 

THE vital issue of state creation remains a prized treasure which is of high interest to us in this part of the 'pace setter' state while it is also a matter of urgent national importance. The whole high-tech lobbying and political horse-trading has reached a feverish pitch. As at the time of putting this piece together, there were well over 30 requests for state creation and the number has been on the increase. Even Senate President David Bonaventure Marks's Benue people are clamoring for the creation of Apa State. Every passing week seems to be witnessing a new request for a new state. The buildup has been fierce and can only get more intense, interesting and dynamic.

IT is unarguable that the administration of Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala has been marred with controversies. In fact, the controversy still continues as he approach the end of his first term as the Governor of Oyo State.   Long before now, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and his associates were reported to have been gearing up for the 2011 race. This was barely one year after his election as Governor of the state. There were so many issues in Oyo State at the time that needed the attention of the governor but unfortunately a re-election into office was his main priority. His inability to address the various issues in the state indicated that Adebayo Alao-Akala who betrayed his former boss, Chief Rashidi Ladoja had nothing on the table to offer the people of Oyo State majority of who are poverty-stricken.

Certain things mark a man out in life. The same set his grave apart, making it uncommon; they make where he lies a holy land of sort, where men and women come to pay their respect.  What history says is responsible for the latter.  A man's actions while he is alive takes care of the former. Both account for what sustains the relevance of  some people from yesterday till tomorrow. Historians go into the archives when a  former  US Attorney-General, William B. Saxbe, died the other day.  What is found is a basis for comparison  between that former  Attorney-General out there, and men in power  - especially a former Attorney-General  - here in Nigeria. 

I read with puzzlement the blunders made by one blinded English language writer, which murdered the Queens English when he strenuously attempted to join issues with a towering personality in the person of Hon Anthony Madwatte, a member of the National Assembly representing  Lamurde, Numan, Demsa Federal Constituency.

The repugnant junk write-up appeared in the Daily Trust Newspaper of Monday July 12TH 2010 by one Homtapwa Vrati Wonoamo, a pitiable and deplorable praise singer who is grappling with the chasm of poverty and wants Grace to extricate him from the dens of paucity and deficiency. 
I beg to say the blunders made in that write-up rather exposed the political profligacy and buffoonery of the person the write-up was meant to serve as a platform to aspire for the second time in the Adamawa Southern senatorial zone.

THE saying that 'the place of the woman is in the kitchen' is a true reflection of how they are in the African society generally and Nigeria in particular. A woman is only good for the kitchen and for child rearing.  The unfair treatment of women world over led to the Beijing Conference of 1995 where basic demands were made by the women folks on their male counterparts.  How far the communiqué issued at the end of the conference has impacted on the lot of women is obviously visible.  Women now have a right to aspire to every political office amongst others.

THEY are parents; mothers and fathers with families they are responsible to; they are men and women who have with a large heart to share love with the motherless, the orphans and less privileged children. Having shown these special children love over the years through their orphanages and homes, founders of orphanages and homes in Nigeria came together to form an association with an objective to showing more consolidated love and care to the under privileged.

WITH the battle for 2011 now in earnest, a group known as  Goodluck Jonathan Vision 2011 has vowed that it would mobilize millions of Nigerians to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan to remain in office come 2011 and here is no stopping them.  Speaking to Trend'tainment, the National Coordinator of the movement, Mr. Obiorah Otti said the group is poised to realize the dream of making the President remain in Aso Rock come 2011. “By divine providence, Dr Goodluck Jonathan is the president of Nigeria and will remain so come 2011 because he has shown that he will provide good governance, transparency and accountability in the handling of public affairs. Let everybody support him.

THE Nigerian police by the statute setting it up are charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order as well as the protection of lives and properties. But unfortunately of late, the activities of the indisciplined Nigerian police under the leadership of Mr. Ogbonna Onovo have assumed a frightening and calamitous dimension.

The Nigerian police just like under the leadership of Onovo's predecessors have discharged their responsibilities in ultra violation of the constitution and the statute establishing it and thus there is urgent need for a thorough appraisal of this organ of the state before we are all consumed by its failure. The pain and anguish that this irresponsible organ of the state has subjected Nigerians to ever since is unimaginable. They have brought opprobrium upon the Nigerian state by their callousness and criminal behavior.

BABANGIDA is back, as usual General Ibrahim Babangida, a former military President is back and this needs no heralding. He is back with bells around his two legs and two arms so every move he makes jingles with bells and that is vintage “IBB”. In a paid advertorial which he splashed across various networks of Television across Nigeria, the former dictator took the airwaves by storm with his announcement that he wants to rule Nigeria again come 2011. He also invited top ranking newspaper editors to a news briefing where he enunciated the same testament He has also planted Pro-IBB for president spokesmen in virtually every public discourse covered by the media “IBB” is definitely welcome to the fray of democratic life.

PRIOR to the Nations Independence come 1st October, a count down clock has been unveiled by President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan recently.
It is expected that the count down clock be placed at strategic locations of state capitals with a view to remind Nigerians of the Nations Golden jubilee Celebration billed to take place soon.

But as the Nation makes preparation to celebrate its Golden Jubilee, with an attempt to be in the Guinness world book of record by cutting the world's largest cake, she should not forget that the people of the Niger Delta are dying of abject poverty.

HE died. That was exactly 21 years ago. He was the most patriotic footballer Nigeria ever had. At no time, in his lifetime, did he jetlag from Europe where he plied his trade as a professional at the expense of the national football body or its government. Committed and dedicated. He arrived every national assignment early, in one of such clarion call he died while serving father land. He was young and a Master's Degree holder of International Law. He was Sam Okwaraji.

Not much is heard of him today. He's dead anyway, andso is the spirit of patriotism in Nigerian footballers. Today, past and present, none equaled him. Instead our 22-man senior team has become prize fighters. Rebuffing national call when it doesn't come with perks of US dollars. Literarily, man should earn the fruit of his labour. I'm not against that. And neither do I espouse self-interest overriding popular interest.

That is not all. Indiscipline too has overtaken spirit of sportsmanship. Like in political circle, the soccer sport is now a caste of cabal.
Sadly, in the just concluded FIFA World Cup hosted in South Africa our team returned home with a prized effort of shame. And President Jonathan wielded the big stick, therefore disbanding the team. But like a couple of kids they point accusing fingers at each other.

THE Nigeria health record in the near past has been that of countless woes and disappointment among other countries of the world.
Available health indices indicate that the country may not have fared so well, with severe inequities. With a teeming population of 140 million people, the average life expectancy of the Nigerian currently stands at 47 years; a figure very much influenced by the relative high burden of communicable and non communicable diseases. Maternal mortality is estimated at over 545 per 100,000 which translate to approximately 35,000 would-have-been-mothers dying from pregnancy related complications each year.

When Dr. Amanze Obi, a renowned and seasoned journalist, was appointed a Commissioner by the executive governor of Imo State , Chief Ikedi Ohakim, a number of the people here and in diaspora commended the governor for seeing reasons to incorporate such notable personality in his cabinet. The commendations, to my best of knowledge, were not made just for the sake of making it. They were made after x-raying Dr. Obi's past antecedents.

Sponsored malicious campaign being carried out against Mr. Femi Otedola and African Petroleum Plc - African Petroleum's response.

GOVERNANCE in Rivers State should not only be of great concern to the government at the federal level, it should be the interest of conscious citizens owing to the fact that it is the centre of oil and gas activities which hold the economy of Nigeria today.

Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is that name which has got a memorable stand in the history of Rivers State. It is becoming a name which history will have to contend to compare, not only in Rivers state and the South-South geopolitical zone, but in Nigeria as a whole. This is not an avenue to match the performances of governors. But little should be explored to clarify facts.

THE clock is ticking. The need to clean up the polity is getting increasingly glaring and popular. The patriots are fast being separated from the political jobbers who represent the old order sought to be sifted for meaningful change to occur. The change will come with it, genuine and acceptable electoral practices which in turn will stop the congestion in our Courts and Election Tribunals.