Since the 2015 defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party in the presidential election and the exit of President Goodluck Jonathan from Aso Rock, Abuja, most prominent politicians of the PDP stock have unfolded their political fangs and persuasions. Those politicians were only interested in the benefits that come with political power, and in the words of Olusegun Obasanjo, the sweetness of the honey pot. And who is that foolish man that would stay around when the honey pot is dry and nothing to lick? Multitude of politicians are jumping ship and defecting to the APC despite the admonitions of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to such people to remain in their party and build a formidable opposition party.

Presidents, the world over, are known to rely on the services and friendship of dependable allies, party members and even family members outside the defined and regular cabinet appointees throughout their tenure. It does not matter whether that president is Barrack Obama or Vladimir Putin, or even any of the African presidents. As a matter of fact, it was reported most recently in the media that an inner ring of President Muhammadu Buhari’s circle of friends has started digging in and influencing all the appointments made so far by him. Like it or not, that is how the presidency works, especially in a democracy. And that was how the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan operated until he was voted out of power in 2015.

IN an ironical twist of fate, West Africa has been declared free of the two-year Ebola epidemic just as the sub-region is facing a renewed disease epidemic threat in the guise of Lassa fever. For most West Africans, particularly Nigerians that had an unpalatable taste of the devastating Ebola outbreak, it isn’t yet time to heave a sigh of relief. The West African Ebola outbreak was the worst in history. Between December 2013 and November 2015, Ebola infected almost 29,000 people and claimed 11,315 lives across the sub-region and even beyond.

As the protagonists of Biafra intensify efforts for the realisation of their secession agenda, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, described the move as a dead agitation borne out of sheer ignorance and error of judgment. The former President said those involved in the current agitation for Biafra were embarking on hopeless and futile exercise, which no serious-minded Nigerian should engage in.

As Nigeria battles with the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak months after the success over Ebola, the federal government has been advised to provide Lassa rapid test kits to detect the disease on the spot.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung has opened himself up to stinging attacks following his initiation of peace talks over an already resolved case between the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick and proprietor of Giwa FC Christopher Giwa over the August 30 NFF Elections that saw the emergence of Pinnick as the President of the NFF.

With lack of contraception claiming the lives of thousands of women and children annually, religious bodies must put their influence to good use. This piece was contributed by Rev erend Canon Grace Kaiso and Dr Ahmed RA Ragab

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State , Friday, urged Nigerians to support the sincere efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to develop the country on all fronts, just as he said that no meaningful development can take place without unity and cohesion.

The Nwofor’s family compound in Ndikwuenu community in Orumba North area of Anambra state, was usually a beehive of activities during Christmastide, with relatives and friends visiting from within and outside the country to revel in a peaceful and relaxed ambience. But it changed to an atmosphere of gloom and melancholy last year. While other families were basking in the euphoria of the season, same could not be said of the Nwafors, whose members were enveloped by grief and depression, with their countenances devoid of the usual enthusiasm and perky expressions.

This, also explains, that the power of life and death belongs to the All-Knowing-God, who sent us to this world; little wonder may you have known that life, power and death would cease within a short time. One by one we go, one by one we come, but in the expense of this, you have to continue making yourself good, so that immortality can be attained even after death. Yes’! Death and life is in the hands of God, he knows the hour, time, day, how and when. It is an individual call and experience. No wonder, our ancestral wisdom tells us again,

History, some people say, is the best teacher of a people. It is from history a society is able to know about itself, its past, the present and even try to project what tomorrow may be. It is from history that a people are able to learn from its past mistakes and efforts made to avoid pitfalls of the past. It will be therefore unfortunate if the people of our dear state of Taraba (fondly referred to as the Nature’s Gift to the nation) do not want to learn from history at this stage of its stagnation.

Following the loss of 42 lives to the Lassa fever outbreak out of the 86 reported cases, some residents in the affected states have remained indifferent. While some stated that they have not paid attention to the development, some indicated that they were no adequate awareness campaign to guide people against the spreed of the disease.

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant Presidential pardon to the sixty-six soldiers whose death sentences were recently commuted to 10 years imprisonment by the Army Authorities for offences ranging from insubordination behavior to mutiny, among others. Governor Oshiomhole said that based on the strength of the recent revelations on the $2.1 billion funds for arms purchase which was mismanaged by the last administration, the President should, in the spirit of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, spare them the jail term but could dismiss them from the Army for their acts of indiscipline.

SENATOR Uche Ekwunife, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the nullification of her election by the Court of Appeal and refusal of the PDP to organize fresh primaries to produce a candidate, has said that she does not want to be dashed the APC ticket. In an interview with journalists in Awka, she said she wants the APC hierarchy to organize a primary for all the aspirants interested in the seat and she will support whoever wins the ticket if she did not get it.

The Police in Abuja yesterday paraded a cyber fraudster, one Elom Caleb Nzube who specializes in intimidation, blackmail, cybercrime and impersonation using the internet and twitter to defraud his victims even as the suspect confessed that he created the web page which he uses, with Vanguard Media Logo because ‘it is very credible and accepted worldwide’.