For many, it looks like magic, but to others it was originality and aesthetics combined. That was the feeling at the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach venue of the Boat Regatta of the just-concluded Rivers State Carnival 2011 (CARNIRIV) evoked by performances of some masquerades.

Popular pop highlife star and Oruka crooner Sunny Neji, is a man in pain. He is so angry at the humiliation meted out to him by men of the Nigerian Police Force that he decided to twit and share his experience on Facebook.

As 2011 draws to a close, it seems appropriate to look back in anger or approval at some of the people who have, individually or as part of groups, made the past l2 months better or worse in various ways and in various parts of the world.

IT is trite to say that the issue of the planned deregulation of the down stream oil sector has generated controversy and even pitched proponents and opponents of the intended policy against each other. And while one appreciates some of the fears of opponents of the policy, one equally discovers that…

The habit of attributing evil to certain months is not restricted to some people in Nigeria who believe that the ember months is dotted with some evils.

One actress who made so much news in the year 2011 is delectable screen goddess, Mercy Johnson.

There is no doubt that President Goodluck Jonathan, the 14th Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had a herculean task marketing his two most critical products to Nigerians: Tenure elongation and fuel subsidy.

Shareholders of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, yesterday, endorsed the proposed restructuring of the bank into a financial services holding company.

IF turning back the hands of the time, was a possibility, many Nigerians would not be in a hurry to turn back the time to 2011. This is why there is a hurry to see this year gone with history in this part of the world. But even as the New year is ushered in within the next 48 hours, there are palpable fears that events of 2011, especially the spate of bomb blasts would spillover to 2012.

HAPPILY, “Unemployment” was a major theme in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Budget address, which he recently delivered to a Joint Session of both houses of the National Assembly.

BARELY 24 hours after Senator Ajayi Boroffice dumped the ruling Labour Party, LP, in Ondo State for the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the state House of Assembly yesterday called on the Senate President, Senator David Mark to immediately declare his seat vacant.

We are excited that this December, it is the turn of beautiful traditional singer, Muma Gee to be married. Muma Gee’s glamorous wedding to Prince Eke, took place in Rivers State. Unknown to many people, Gulder beer played a very important role in their love story.

Anthony Okoronkwo, Comrade Dike A. Williams, Emmanuel Dike, Richard Dike, Lillian Dike, Linda Chioma Obiukwu, Uche Q. Obiukwu, Chindinma Cythia Obiukwu, Ifeoma G. Obiukwu, Ann Chinedu Aigbadon, Chiemeri Nwachukwu, Cecilia Ebeku, Oluebube Faustina Pius, Chidera Sylvia Pius, Florence Nwachukwu, Eucharia Ewoh, Joseph Daniel,Inspector Titus Eze, Obasi Jonathan Onyebuchi, Ehiawaguan Peter, Uche Esiri, Sgt. Kadiri Danjuma, Unidentified person (5)

Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, yesterday, presented the state’s appropriation bill of over N97 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration.

THE Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) has gone into an agreement with the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) for the funding of projects for its members.