Chief Tom Ikimi, the National Chairman of the Third Republic National Republican Convention (NRC), was part of the process that gave birth to the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), but now in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview, Ikimi speaks on his exit from the APC. He also explains why the North should wait till 2019 to return to power at the federal level while pointing out the flaws in the assumption that the APC will win the forthcoming polls overwhelmingly in the South-west and North-west geo-political zones.

The wise man says: “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” (Proverbs10:22). However, trouble is often the instrument of God’s blessing

WITH his determination to expand the space for political and social discourse, to determine the future of Nigeria and to create a new political direction for Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the setting up of the Presidential Advisory Committee, saddled with, among others, the responsibility of fashioning out modalities for a National Conference where Nigerians would brainstorm on the future of the country as well as proffer solutions to knotty national issues.

Nigerian history, like the history of the United States of America, which Nigeria mirrors in extant constitutionalism, is full of historical epochs of regional tensions and the conflicts of powerful political interests.

Mrs. Oluseyi Ifaturoti, former Managing Director of Crystalife Assurance Limited is the Promoter, Steps to Greatness Foundation. She speaks on what the foundation is out to achieve and other issues.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, in this interview, speaks on issues in the oil and gas sector including the subsidy regime, local content, the alleged billions missing oil revenues, and the controversial N10billion allegedly spent by her to hire planes.

“Government’s decision to slash power tariff is a clear demonstration of it plan to build local capacity. This implies that government is looking inward to stimulate tangible growth in the manufacturing sector of the economy. The good thing is that government is putting measures in place to revamp manufacturing industries across the country. The policy in electricity reduction now is a deliberate attempt by government to enhance entrepreneurial development and wealth creation in the economy”.

Odunlade Jonathan Adekola is today a man of relevance in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood. Tall, highly amiable and friendly, Odun, as he is fondly called, by his closest fans, entered into the film industry ….and sees himself being fulfilled doing theatre in Nigeria. However, we caught up with him at a location in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and he has this to say about the forthcoming elections and how the administration should assist the film makers against the activities of pirates.

Kehinde Oshadipe, the twin sister of the late Taiwo Oshadipe of the Oshadipe Twins has released a tribute song for her late twin sister and member of the Oshadipe Twins. Taiwo Oshadipe passed on to glory on October 3, 2014 after a brief illness. Titled: `My Reflection’ and produced by Ace producer, Wole Oni, the emotion laden track describes the ordeal of losing a loved one who holds a special place in one’s heart.

This has been one election campaign during which we have ridiculed our leaders, contenders, and ourselves before the whole world. At times, it has appeared as if the international community was the electorate that needed to be wooed by political actors who tar-brushed one another in a campaign unprecedented by the fury of hate speech, insults, and emptiness of issues.

Richard Grenell, a former envoy of the United States of America, has warned Nigerians not to elect former military dictator, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), of The All Progressives Congress in the March 28 Presidential election.

This is certainly not the best of times for the people of Benue State following communal conflicts and the recent bloodbath at Egba village, in Agatu local government area of the state.

Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State was in Lagos last week for consultation with the Arewa community even as he used the opportunity to receive an award from the Global Excellence magazine. In an interview at the departure lounge of the Lagos airport, Kwakwanso said the smear campaign against his party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, can only further help the APC in the coming elections, because, according to him, “There are some who have already made up their minds, no amount of smear campaign that would change the minds of Nigerians”.

Dyed in the wood Buharimaniacs seem oblivious of the fragility and dangers of APC’s excessive reliance on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s reputation for electoral success. No matter how incorruptible a presidential candidate might be, democratic governance is a complex undertaking that requires coordinated efforts from various individuals at different levels of authoritative decision-making to make a meaningful impact.

Not many Nigerians have in the last 4 years criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as much as this columnist. A few of the issues which influenced the posture can be recalled for ease of reference. First, Prof Attahiru Jega, chairman of the commission at his screening by the Senate, hinted that under him there would be massive voter education, aimed at bringing about attitudinal change among the citizenry. We thought the National Orientation Agency and the media would handle the assignment better. On November 11, 2010, INEC was reported to have told the fifth Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) summit in Lagos that it had adopted the option for resolving political and pre-election disputes. We were not persuaded that it is INEC and not the Judiciary that should develop grey hairs over the settlement of election disputes.