Before the advent of the colonizers, what is today known as Nigeria was a cacophony of peoples and cultures engaged in the art of living according to their peculiar circumstances and destinies. It was Lord Lugard, the first colonial Governor-General of the area, who facilitated the amalgamation of the so-called Southern and Northern Protectorates to create one entity called Nigeria. His very imaginative wife proffered the name Nigeria and composed the first national anthem for the new nation.

PROTEST-ERS from Delta State who stormed the national Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to call for the dissolution of the state executive committee of the party were, yesterday, shunned by the leadership of the party.

As part of efforts to reinforce the importance of education, 1Goal initiative was launched to help rally support for the education of about 75 million students who are out of school. The initiative basically, has three objectives.

EDO State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday, reprimanded policemen in his convoy, who fired gunshots into the air to scare away protesting students, threatening to take disciplinary action against them.

It was a meeting of minds in Lagos last week, when the organized private sector under the auspices of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association ( NECA) hosted the finance minister, Mr. Olusegun Aganga. The meeting was different from the usual reading of addresses. For the private sector, it was time to present a case to the government on the challenges to their businesses and why white collar jobs will continue to elude thousands of able and qualified Nigerians.

NATIONAL Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday alerted the nation on the constraints before the commission which may significantly hinder the commission’s effort to prepare the voters’ register and conduct the 2011 elections.

Recently, the military hierarchy began to make a case for the withdrawal of military men from the barely six years old Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, introduced by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired general of the Nigerian Army.

HUNDREDS of Ugborodo women led by Madam Mercy Olowu, yesterday, took over the Federal Government’s gas pipeline project at Madangho, Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, over failure by government to enter into negotiation with the community to address issues of alleged gross marginalisation.

THERE are no more debates about the fact that corruption is thriving. Both the National Assembly and former President Olusegun Obasanjo agree that there is corruption in high places and they have been aware of it for long.

THE decision of former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to contest the 2011 presidential election is not enjoying the full backing of the North as a northern based group, Arewa Progressive Union, APU, is said to be mobilising the entire North against these leaders who they described as ‘expired leaders’.