From the monthly archives: May 2010

Political parties by fiat

On May 30, 2010 · In Point of Order

I knew that one day the question of political parties would be addressed, but I least expected that it would come via a route that is undemocratic- the pronouncement by legislative fiat that Two (or Five) Political Parties should emerge and bang, they appeared! In fact, the number is not the point or the issue. That the number can be decreed by a lawmaking body is.

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Pandemonium as 2 die from poisonous gas in Kaduna

On May 30, 2010 · In News

There was pandemonium in Kaduna yesterday when a welder opened a gas cylinder containing suspected poisonous gas which reportedly choked two people to death and caused over 500 others to be rushed to hospitals in Kakuri area of the metropolis

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Politicians are now out and about

On May 30, 2010 · In Voice of Reason

Many of them have no principles. They are what, in Ibadan, the people call Amala and Gbegiri politicians. Anything goes for them – as long as they win. Unfortunately many of them are winning. They use any combination and manner of methods. They rig, they bribe, they maim and kill. They say the end justifies the means.

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Human doings

On May 30, 2010 · In Moment to Moment

A robot is wired to function in a manner that is time and energy efficient. Its sole purpose is to make life easier for the owner. When it is assigned a task, it gets it done to the best of its ability and once done, it moves on to the next task or conserve its energy till the next time it is called upon.

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Goodluck Jonathan: Breaking loose from Obasanjo’s PDP?

On May 30, 2010 · In News

This report traces the strategy employed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in hijacking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from its founding fathers and the perceived tango between him and President Goodluck Jonathan over who to replace the out-gone national chairman of their party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor. Does the president need to break loose? Will he succeed in cutting Obasanjo’s grip on PDP?

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Bayelsa Gov sets aside N1.5bn for post anmesty programme

On May 30, 2010 · In News

Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State said yesterday that his administration had set aside N1.5billion for the post amnesty capacity building programme expected to train 5,000 youths in various skills even as he joined in the call on President Goodluck Jonathan to contest 2011 presidential poll.

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When God Zones, no man can change, by Barnabas Gemade

On May 30, 2010 · In News

As a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, what exactly was the arrangement in terms of zoning of the office of the president in terms of rotating between the north and the south?
This issue of rotation between the north and the south came about as a result of what you will call an arrangement of necessity which came as a result of the marginalization cry by many Nigerians when we were doing what turned out to be the 1999 constitution.

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Taxation remains most sustainable source of revenue for govt, Fasoto

On May 30, 2010 · In Business

Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been shrinking since July 2007 when it stood at 67 billion dollars. The books read $40.48 billion last March. At the last meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee, the Minister of State for Finance Mr . Remi Babalola, said that in the last ten years, growth in discretionary spending by all federal, state and local government out paced the annual growth rate of the overall economy, resulting in deficits.

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2010: Time ticks for Lagerback’s final list

On May 30, 2010 · In Sports

That the Super Eagles played a barren draw against Saudi Arabia in Austria last Tuesday in their first build-up match for the 2010 World Cup is no longer news. The team’s technical adviser, Lars Lagerback had his first feel of the players in the match which many Nigerians have described as below par and unconvincing.

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The choices before President Jonathan (2)

On May 30, 2010 · In Sunday Perspectives

Jonathan’s predecessor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, frankly acknowledged that the elections that brought them to power were flawed. Therefore, the President is morally obliged to support electoral reforms that would eliminate the flaws. It is unfortunate that he has to work in concert with a National Assembly overwhelmingly dominated by crude Machiavellians actuated by instincts of primitive accumulation and political survivalism.

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In the name of the University

On May 30, 2010 · In The Orbit

There are assessment and evaluation issues at stake. But of great concern to me is the relationship between universities and the production of the labour force. Why private universities? What is the great need? Nigerian universities produce a great number of graduates annually who are mostly unemployed. Private universities simply max out Nigeria’s unemployment statistics by churning out more into the labour market.

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Re: National Security

On May 30, 2010 · In Vista Woman

‘Those who want to be voted for at the next elections should tell us how they will tackle the issue of security in the country. Nigerians should assert their rights and not just cast their votes in favour of anyone or any political party, based on the sentiment of tribalism or religion, or who bribed the most. We should be concerned about our security and ask these politicians what exactly they will do to ensure safety of lives and property in the country. Those who don’t have concrete agenda for this should not be voted for. Period. Funsho, Lagos.’

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The Macmillan Diary

On May 30, 2010 · In Business

Macmillan, one of the largest and best known international publishing houses in the world is characterized by academic and professional, educational, fiction and non-fiction publishing of the highest quality. Powerful brands owned by Macmillan, such as Nature, Palgrave Macmillan, Pan and Picador are now established in 70 countries. Macmillan also offers high-level publishing services to third party clients.

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2010: Messi may not shine against Eagles, Ngerem

On May 30, 2010 · In Sports

As Nigerians continue to express fear over the Super Eagles chances against a slippery Lionel Messi in their June 12 crunchy tie at the World Cup, former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Mr. Dan Ngerem has doused their fears.

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