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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
