Cross River: Who is bullying who? By Tonnie Iredia
The public perception in Nigeria that the federal government is intimidating all the opposition political parties is well amplified. Indeed, many people believe that the goal is to turn the country into a one-party state-a battle that has been made to look like a federal project as if not much of it is happening in the […]
Nigeria’s minimum wage: Committees without end
None of our previous governments can be said to have done well for workers. One can only hope that the Buhari government can make a difference
Ambode: Don’t bring back Vehicle Inspection Officers
The Lagos State Government last week ordered the suspension of the state’s Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) from road operation in the state. The directive was reportedly given by the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Five (5) recent confusing issues
In Nigeria, several things are hard to understand by many people including even the most learned. In fact, quite often, those who eat, drink and sleep politics are mesmerized by the posture of grassroots politicians.
Jonathan: Why break the golden silence?
Even if the 2015 Presidential election was not perfect, no one would hastily join the previous government in condemning Jega whenever the gimmicks of the then ruling party are recalled
Hadi Sirika: Minister of the year
On March 8, 2017, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was closed for runway repairs. Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika announced that it would take six weeks to complete the project while making a solemn promise that the airport would reopen for regular traffic on April 19. Many Nigerians including this writer couldn’t see the sense in the decision especially as some technical experts and relevant professional associations argued against it. Public cynicism on the project which swelled by the day was accentuated by the refusal of foreign airlines to relocate to the Kaduna airport which had been designated for use during the period of the repairs. There was even the argument that the construction firm handling the project had agreed to do the work in a fairly longer period without closing business fully at the airport. Not many could therefore see the rationale for government’s insistence on closing the airport and exposing travelers to several hazards such as longer travel hours and the notoriety of the insecurity of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway. To all of these, Minister Sirika stood his ground.
Bravo to Speaker Dogara & Governor El Rufai
One subject that has agitated the minds of Nigerians since our current democracy took off in 1999 has been the closure of the political space. No one seems to be able to decode the special lexicon which lures our political class into so much of electioneering and little of governance.
Is Prof Sagay Nigeria’s problem?
Well, the party is free to use the current peace efforts to merely dissuade the washing of APC’s several dirty pieces of linen in the public but these won’t put the party up for 2019
Appointments Buhari should avoid
One of the submissions of this column last week was that Nigeria must stop leaving substance to pursue shadows. It was argued that if 25,000 police operatives posted to a state during an election cannot prevent hoodlums from snatching ballot boxes, why should anybody leave that substantive matter to discuss how the Inspector General of Police chooses to dress?
Our Senate as a Senior Prefect
Our democracy is being weakened not only by those who prefer legal guidance but also by those who whimsically like Senior Prefects issue ego-based summons
Senate is right, customs is correct
It is indeed wrong to make rules, regulations and laws that are targeted at a set of people; it is worse when such laws and rules are retrospective. The senate was right, it is wrong for customs to backdate payment of duties on old vehicles
Our Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Controversy
What we have in the US or anywhere else are not viable foreign missions but some proliferated structures here and there described as embassies, consulates and high commissions
Government street beggars of Nigeria
If begging is bad, the relocation of beggars from Abuja to other places does not stop the so called evil, instead, it merely transfers it elsewhere. So, which Nigerian location is good for begging and what is the name of the capital city of Nigerian beggars?
Governor Wike may have a point after all!
About a month ago the Police made some revelations about the December 10, 2016 rerun election in Rivers State. The revelations which were contained in the report of a panel set up the Inspector General of Police (IGP) among other things indicted 6 police personnel, 23 electoral officers and 2 administrative officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for unwholesome conduct during the election. In a previous article, we commended the police for at last investigating a failed election as well as indicting some of its own personnel.
Buhari’s unnecessary health controversy
Our leaders must begin to appreciate that public perceptions of issues are more readily dependent on body language, gestures and signs rather than what is actually said
Official extortion sustains rising cost of food in Nigeria
Do we need a task force to find answers to these questions?
