As the nation celebrated 13 years of uninterrupted democracy and one year of President Goodluck Jonathan in office Tuesday, for cross section of Nigerians, it has been mixed feelings on the gains of democracy since the journey began in 1999 and the performance of the present administration so far. Perhaps, what some Nigerians find disturbing is the fact that the political class is already scheming for 2015 when they are yet to feel the impacts of those they elected to power barely a year ago.

EBONYI State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday vowed not to readmit former members who
left the party to contest elections in other political parties in the 2011 April general elections.

Saddened by the rising spate of exam malpractice perpetrated by students during national examinations conducted by examination bodies such as Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the National Business and Technical Education (NABTEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO), the upper chamber of the National Assembly (Senate), last February, banned the existence of special centres otherwise referred to as ‘miracle centres.’

It will be almost impossible for Nigeria, as an import-dependent economy, to achieve her Vision 20 20-20. The only way to go about making that dream a reality is by cultivating production culture. It is on record that Nigeria imports almost everything – from electronics, to agric produce, to household utensils. Even the most simple things like toothpicks and safety matches are imported when all the facilities required for smooth production are locally available.

Nigeria is a multi-ethnic society of about 140,000,000 people with well over 250 dialects. But sadly, this immensely blessed country has failed to take advantage of her rich endowment in human, cultural and natural resources for the betterment of the people.

KADUNA—Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, yesterday, said he was in support of the re-naming of University of Lagos, UNILAG, to Moshood Abiola University, MAUL, by President Goodluck Jonathan. He described it as a wonderful democracy gift to Nigerians.

MAIDUGURI—BORNO State Governor, Kashim Shettima has granted amnesty to 46 prison inmates, including two persons awaiting execution after a death sentence was passed on them by a court in Maiduguri.

DEMOCRATIC Peoples Prty,DPP, has condemned the deployment of truckloads of soldiers and policemen in Abraka, allegedly on the orders of Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

WARRI – ITSEKIRI National Youth Council, INYC, yesterday, denied claims by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, that former armed Itsekiri youths “from the beginning showed resentment to the post-amnesty programme.”

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I has decried the level of Information Communication Technology (ICT) penetration in Nigeria’s education system, saying it is still low.

Journalists and civil society organisations have been charged to monitor performances of political office holders to enable them live up to their responsibilities.

Emeka Nwosu’s new book, Nigeria and the Crisis of the Nation Station – Agenda for National Consensus, could not have come at a better time. Apparently a catalogue analysis of major issues and challenges besetting the Nigeria nation, the book should serve as a valuable reference material to those calling for Sovereign National Conference and to students, scholars and interested minds in political science and political philosophy.

Residents of Special Correctional Facility for Girls, Idi-Araba Lagos, were awestruck at the sight of their newly launched library last weekend. Hundreds of new books on different subjects, were donated by the humanitarian arm of the Covenant University Alumni Students Association (CUASA).

NAMIBIAN High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selma Ashipala- Musavyi has disclosed that her country would welcome corporation with Nigeria on areas of literary and cultural exchange, noting that such gesture would be of immense benefit to Namibia.

The falling education standard in Nigeria has again been brought to the fore by concerned stakeholders in the sector who knew what it used to be in the 70s and early 80s.