We shall also discuss the fairness or unfairness of resorting to plea bargain which offers undeserved soft-landing to prominent Nigerians who were found guilty of elephantine corruption and financial crimes, whereas ordinary citizens convicted for stealing pittance would face up to ten years imprisonment.

People ask me if what we, as columnists, say is ever read by those they affect. My answer has always been that, in a division of labour setting, ours is to show the way and leave the decision to follow the way to those who so choose. We can’t force anyone, but whenever things later go bad, in spite of our shouting and yelling, we go back in time and point to what we said that may have been ignored.

Lately my mind has been fix ated on my younger self and how great it would be if my older self had the opportunity to have a talk with that young lady.

Chief Olufemi Lateef Okunnu, was 34 years old when he became federal commissioner for works and housing. In just about seven years, he brought his radicalism to bear on the administration of General Yakubu Gowon.
In this two part interview, you will read about the administration of General Gowon and how the cabinet meetings were conducted. For a 33-year old army officer who became Nigeria’s head of state, it is interesting that he surrounded himself with, perhaps, the best brains of that era without prejudice to their age.

This report takes a critical look at the high stakes, intra party power play between presidential contenders across the political divide and concludes that what delegates may be presented with may just be a fiat accompli. It also reveals the real reasons why senators shot down the amendment proposal for Electoral Act, 2010. The question: How would a choreographed political party convention further the cause of democracy, or the one man, one vote mantra?

CORRUPTION and bad leadership are among the problems identified to be hindering the growth and development of Nigeria as a country by the International Movement for Unity and Progress of Africa, IMUPA.

Two statements published in the newspapers recently have just come to my attention. The first deals directly with my person. The other is of a more general kind, and they are all tied to the question of governance in the East. The first, by an obscure hagiographer, Mr. Ethelbert Okere who advises the governor of Imo State on media matters, was a rather puerile attempt to respond to a piece in my column on the subject, “governing the East.”

It’s thumbs-down for governance in this country, especially if you’re talking of accountability.

If you believe Commissioner Rugbere, you will believe anything. You are clearly not fit to be an Area Boy. With all due respects, the CP, Akwa Ibom can go and say that to the marines. Let me quickly give some reasons, which though not meant to embarrass the CP, but which cast doubt on the ability of his “men already in the bush” to perform. Just a few weeks ago, three kidnappers already in police custody, in Uyo, escaped and have not been caught since by the “men already in the bush”.

Before Pa Etuk was snatched, October had already proved to be a busy and profitable month for kidnappers in the state. First, the wife of Group Captain Sam Ewang, former military administrator of Ogun and Rivers states, was taken at about 8.25 am in her school right in front of the kids.

Mr. Abdul Oroh is the Edo State Commissioner for Arts and Culture In this interview with GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE in Benin, explained why EDOFEST earlier scheduled to hold this year has been shifted to next year. He also disclosed the Edo State government’s plan to establish the Oba Ovonramwn N’gbasi Musuem and Cultural Centre as one way to immortalising the achievements of that great African ruler; especially in his war against colonialism.

Amid the feelers that the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led Committee of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, is set to come out with a decision on the presidential candidate from the north, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State says the inability of the aspirants to reach a consensus is embarrassing to the north

A former member of the House of Representatives, Ned Nwoko, has urged the people of Anioma to demand for quality leadership and effective representation and reject a culture of mediocrity associated with imposition of candidates on the citizenry.

All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential aspirant, Chief Harry Akande, says the infrastructure that will enable next year’s elections to be free and fair are not in place.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan says the 2011 presidential election is not about him as a person, but about the future of the country, just as he stressed that he was presenting himself as a vehicle of change.