Vanguard News » People & Politics

Why there’re no reprisals (yet)

adekunle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:01:37 +0000

A LOT of young people who do not understand what the Boko Haram orgy of killings is all about have been asking questions. Why is the Islamic sect killing people like this? Why are southerners, especially the Igbos who have been often targeted in churches or meeting places not staging reprisal attacks in the South? Does it mean that the South loves peace and Nigeria more than the North?

‘You can go’ (with the oil!)

adekunle — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:19:58 +0000

AT last, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) met and spoke out since the Boko Haram terrorism received a turbo-charged boost from quarters that are gradually being exposed by our security agencies. The Forum’s tongue had been stolen by the cat (so it seemed) as the Al Qaeda-inspired foreign agents bombed, killed and destroyed in parts of Nigeria’s Muslim North.

Gathering dark clouds

adekunle — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:25:15 +0000

A VIOLENT storm appears to be brewing. We seem perched on a déjà vu: with 1966/1967 about to be re-enacted (somewhat). If the dark prognosis comes to pass, it will not be because northerners are killing southerners in the north as in 1966/67.

Who will Ag IG Abubakar serve?

adekunle — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:03:17 +0000

AS soon as the news of the removal of former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim filtered into the Web, I got a ping from one Victor Otisi who lives in Cotonou, Benin Republic. He pronounced me a “prophet”. In one of my articles of last week Monday, I had said I would be surprised if Ringim was still in office by the time the write-up was printed.

And the emir wept

ojiego — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:00:11 +0000

I WONDER how the average Muslim Northern Nigerian felt when the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Ado Bayero, burst into tears when President Goodluck Jonathan paid him a condolence and solidarity visit last Sunday.

People power Nigeriana

adekunle — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:24:10 +0000

THE saying that in a democracy, people get the kind of government they want is true, after all. When on January 1, 2012, the federal government effected the removal of the subsidy on petrol, Nigerians waited with uncommon enthusiasm to embark on the nationwide “indefinite” strike called by organised Labour and civil society.

Oshiomhole and the subsidy crisis

ojiego — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:40:36 +0000

By Nnanna Ochereome

SINCE the petrol subsidy removal crisis began, two public officers have been on the spotlight for moving from where they were before to where they are now. These are Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State and Dr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media.

Before his [...]

‘Happy New Year’ from GEJ

alexsamade — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:18:21 +0000

BEFORE I discuss Happy New Year from President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) let me start this write-up from the appropriate beginning by wishing you Happy New Year 2012, late as it may seem. My people say whenever a man wakes up is his morning. Mine comes without pains.

Bayelsa’s do-or-die guber

Charlesmgb — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:00:10 +0000

IN a way, Professor Chinua Achebe was right. When he was offered the Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, national honour for the year 2011 by the President Goodluck Jonathan regime he turned it down on the ground that the problems that prompted his rejection of same offer in 2004 still exist in the country.

Ojukwu was sent to expose Nigeria (3)

alexsamade — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:00:23 +0000

NIGERIA is a country ruled by mindless, myopic and opportunistic selfish pursuits by individuals and groups. Few are willing to stand up for the truth and justice irrespective of the cost. One of such few was His Excellency, Lt Col Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, the late first Military Governor of Western Region, who opted to pay the supreme price rather than betray his visiting boss, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was in Ibadan as part of his nationwide “pacification” tour.

Ojukwu was sent to expose Nigeria (1)

alexsamade — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:20:18 +0000

We knew the day would come. It would have happened this time last year when he was hit by a catatonic stroke. But, just like the great warrior that he was, he fought death for another year and bowed as all mortals eventually must.

Enemies in the House

alexsamade — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:57:43 +0000

I KNEW Alhaji Modu Sheriff was not fit for exalted public office when I watched him acting up in December 2006. The event was the flag-off of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, presidential campaign at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. The former Borno State Governor was very central in the campaign activities.

The Bayelsa guber shindig

alexsamade — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:01:19 +0000

IT was a throwback to the Olusegun Obasanjo days as President of Nigeria and “life leader” of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. That was when the strategy of working a political process to suit the declared fancies of the leader or few oligarchs of the party was perfected.

Constitution: GEJ’s opening gambit

alexsamade — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:00:55 +0000

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan seems dead serious about reforming our body politic. Less than six months after he was sworn in as elected president, he has made a second attempt to show this.

Why Achebe’s rejections matter

alexsamade — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:00:35 +0000

PROFESSOR Chinua Achebe was not the first prominent Nigerian (nor the only one) to reject the now controversial National Honours.