The much vaunted but inefficient fight against corruption has become the basis for which the executive branch under the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on the most extensive power grab in the history of civil rule in Nigeria. Well, Nigerians made the first mistake in 1999, when they did not back their legislators in checkmating President Obasanjo’s attempts to muscle the National Assembly. But let me proceed from where the “Orbit” ended last week by making the following observations. The greatest threat against democracy and the survival of the rule of law in Nigeria is an indolent and a badly informed citizenship. Most Nigerians have never bothered to read the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This includes, many Nigerians who are literate enough to absorb the letters of the constitution, and understand it.

Of all his contemporary traditional rulers, particularly around the Niger Delta, that fought intruder British imperialists, got tried and exiled in his time, Chief Nanna Olomu was the only one who returned home to re-establish his throne and pre-eminence before he died.

A former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Chairman of Anambra Elders Council, Dr Dozie Ikedife, has asked the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to Abia State to avert possible break down of law and order arising from the on-going governorship crisis in the state.

Minutes after I concluded this column last week, I turned to my daily devotional manual, Open Heavens, authored by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and the topic for the day was “ Dancing unto the Lord”. I said to myself, definitely, the Holy Spirit is in charge. I had just written about prayer to praise and, now, a respected man of God has ‘ Dancing unto the Lord’ as his topic for us. This gave me the confidence that some people will soon dance as their sorrows are about to be turned to unspeakable joy.

By Philip Agbese As the Muslim faithful worldwide marked the end of Ramadan fast, two warriors in different parts of the world sent a clear message to terrorists across the globe that humanity will not be cowed by those who pervert Islam, killing in the name of the faith for which millions observed Eid prayers […]

Take the current recrudescence of gitation for the establishment of Republic of Biafra in the South-east and some areas in the South-south more than four decades after the civil war ended. With the possible exception of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Ndigbo, the people who have contributed more than any other ethnic group to national development, have been treated as third class citizens by previous leaders especially in key federal appointments.

In the last few months, members of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been embroiled in squabbles to determine their true leadership. Is it former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff? Some would say yes while many would say it is former Kaduna Governor, Ahmed Makarfi. Having failed to deal with the matter as a family affair, the factions have been in court and on a daily basis, they are getting different decisions which make it easy for each side to follow the judgment it prefers.

Mere mention of Makoko, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the state of the environment. But this time, Makoko is in the news for good. Saturday, June 25, will remain ever green in the minds of 50 women and 20 youths of Makoko, a slum area of Lagos State.

Last week Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu announced the immediate dissolution of the Governing Councils of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, and University of Port Harcourt. In a media statement first aired on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network, the minister directed that the chairmen and members of the councils should immediately hand over the properties of the universities in their care.

Ace producer and artiste, Babatope Temidayo, aka Puffytee, and Double Wahala crooner, Oritsefemi of MSN Gang, may soon come to blows over an issue of settlement regarding PuffyTee’s contribution to producing Oritsefemi’s album. Speaking with Potpourri recently the talented hit-maker who produced Mayorkun’s hit single, Eleko, said Danku, Oritsefemi’s manager was the one managing the affair at the time.

We have now officially entered the raining season after so much extraordinary heat. At the time the heat was so unbearable that we yearned for the rain; just to cool down the atmosphere and heat wave. Today the rain has come with a vengeance, so unpredictable at times causing havoc. One good thing about the rain for me though is seeing my beautiful orchid’s blossom as they receive the rain with love – this is my special hobby of collecting a rare species of flowers that thrive in only charcoal.

The President of the Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, Prof. Sola Adorounmu has warned that Nigeria will continue to remain in the digital colony of other countries of the world unless her national security is protected and managed by the indigenous IT professionals.

SIXTEEN Christian groups in Nigeria, led by the National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, have condemned last week’s extension of the public holiday by the Federal Government over the non-sighting of the moon by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Former Senate president, Adolphus Wabara, has lamented the nation’s loss of two patriotic and eminent citizens, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and Elechi Amadi. In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Wabara said the late Chief Maduekwe was his close and long standing political associate who shared with him a great deal of concern about good governance in their native Abia state and the country at large.

A 750kV transformer explosion has killed three persons and injured five in a suburb called Tudun-Wada, in Abuja, along the popular Airport Road of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.