If we accept the simplistic description of democracy as a government of the people by the people for the people, then, there should be room for a multi-party arrangement. We should accept Thomas Hodgkin’s definition of political parties as, “all organizations which regard themselves as parties and which are so generally regarded.”

If we accept the simplistic description of democracy as a government of the people by the people for the people, then, there should be room for a multi-party arrangement. We should accept Thomas Hodgkin’s definition of political parties as, “all organizations which regard themselves as parties and which are so generally regarded.”

During the Olusegun Obasanjo years before his re-election in 2003, there were cries of marginalization from Arewa and Igbo quarters and attempts were made to impeach President Obasanjo.

NIGERIA, which has been described as a mere “geographical expression”, is also to many people, a funny place where “anything goes”.

IT is absolutely necessary at times, even without being asked to consider what is often regarded as the state of the nation. It is believed that a period of a decade should be reasonable enough to examine the political, social and economic conditions of our dear country called Nigeria. We are assuming that it would not be out of place if we refer the year 1999 as our yesterday and the year 2013 as our today.

The pleasant news in the last few weeks is that the country would see a ‘Mega‘ Political Party through the merging of some important opposition parties. Thus, the merging of ACN, CPC and ANPP could give the country the semblance of a strong and virile opposition party, if everything goes well. For the first time, it might be possible to have an alternative party to the ruling PDP at the Centre.

As many attempts has been made by the political leaders of the North to forge unity in order to bring power back to the North in 2015, the question is being asked, why the Northern political leaders want power so desperately?. The answer is that the ‘North‘ is so used to having an exercising ‘political power‘ that it feels unfulfilled without it. It is a matter of fact that since independence, power (headship of Federal Government) has resided in the North for more than three quarters of the period.

As many Nigerians do often forget memorable events, it is necessary to remind ourselves that 1st of January 2014, Nigeria will be 100 years old as a nation and in 2015, the life of the present Federal Government would need renewal in another national election.

THE impression of the year 2012 by many Nigerians is that, though the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan has tried to transform the economic and political scenes, the efforts have been less edifying. Many commentators and analysts believe that the country has got much less than it desired in the past years, considering the opportunities afforded by immense material and human resources.

Even if one is not a religious fanatic, one is bound to be captivated by the simplicity of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the recent Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). At the Redemption Camp (Lagos/Ibadan Expressway), the President was reported to have asked Nigerians to continue in their prayers for the country and his administration, asking also for the advice of people at anytime he is making mistakes.