Hi Readers! First things first. I must express my immense gratitude to all of you who sent text messages to congratulate me on Heather’s wedding. Actually, texts had been trickling in since the traditional wedding in Jos, just before Christmas. The most recent are the large number commending Heather and me for her purity until her wedding night. I was astounded that that should be a cause for commending us. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I’m not proud of my daughter for keeping herself, what I’m saying is that I’m shocked that virginity still means much to our society and world, given the laxity that seems accepted every where these days

Imo State Government, weekend, said the on-going personnel audit in the 27 local governments of the state was not meant to witch-hunt anybody, but to rid the system of ghost workers.

WHO says political and economic freedom is not desirable? It is, especially in a democratic setting. If not, why did someone like the iconic Nelson Mandela spend 25 years in prison to make his country what it is today? Why did our own great Zik, Awolowo and other nationalists, put their lives on the line to ensure that our country, Nigeria, is free from colonial imperialism.

THE number of first class degrees one of the private universities announced at its convocation ceremony last year stunned guests. A relatively new university with less than 2,000 graduating recorded over 30 students in the first class category.

If Kehinde Sikiru had known what fate had in store for him on Tuesday August 9, he would have reconsidered his planned action for that day. But oblivious of what was to happen, he had proceeded with his plan to visit Solumade community in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The point is that he is presently rueing his action in police detention.

No doubt, the terminology, “True Federalism”, even on its own, connotes an atmosphere of agitation, as it simply implies that “Federalism” as defined ordinarily is being corrupted in its application in the immediate environment. We are here, talking of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the dynamics of achieving the equitable distribution of the common wealth in all its ramifications, as it affects the Urhobo nation.

SENATOR Daisy Danjuma has called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to investigate, arrest and prosecute Senator Ehigie Uzamere representing Edo North Senatorial District in Edo State for alleged corrupt offences.

Chief Michael Ajayi, General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), on Thursday said the ongoing wrecks removal project had reached 70 per cent completion. Ajayi said that the Federal Government had given NPA approval to remove 31 critical wrecks posing problems to navigation in the Lagos waters.

Colonel Ibrahim Yakasai was at one time personal physician to Gen. Sanni Abacha, before he was entangled in the power intrigues of his regime. He was imprisoned as a consequence of the power struggles of that era and regained his freedom in 2003. He is, however, famously known as “Dr. Death” on account of his alleged role in some of the yet unfolding insidious actions of that regime. Dr. Yakasai in this interview gives his own account of some of the events of that time.While he disowns the alleged prison notes that revealed the actions of the Abacha killer squad once credited to him, Dr. Yakasai, however, shies away from commenting on issues now surrounding his one time ally turned foe, Major al-Mustapha

A recent collection of essays on entrepreneurial innovation in developing economies, titled ‘Lessons from the Poor’, mentions an aspect of Nigerian clothing design. Examining the traditional adire dye industry, author Thompson Ayodele informs that the bottom 19% of entrepreneurs polled for the study earned more than state and federal civil servants.

On August 15, the feast of Assumption, workers who had been on strike for five working days and those who had been on strike for a much longer time – the judiciary and health workers –resumed work. Let me, therefore, start by thanking the workers and labour unions for listening to the voice of reason at last. Let me also thank the Anambra State Elders Advisory Council, the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, as well as other organisations and individuals who contributed to the resolution of the labour crisis.

Trans-Atlantic Mortgages Limited, a primary mortgage institution (PMI), said it had concluded plan to provide 500,000 low cost housing units for civil servants in Bayelsa State.

The governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has raised strong objection to the paltry monthly allocation to the state which he said is not enough for the state to meet its obligations to its people.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has declared the need to embark on a holistic reform of the nation’s housing sector that would involve restructuring of the housing and mortgage finance system in order to achieve desired economic development.

Chatered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria has flayed what it described as multiplicity of taxes which it said was a discouraging factor in the nation drive for foreign investment. The Institute stated that unless urgent steps are taken to redress the current tax policy in the country, poverty and unemployment will persists.