Senate: Thank you, but…, by Tonnie Iredia
In recent times, new narratives are emerging daily in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity. On a daily basis, we now hear of bandits and kidnappers that are captured by our gallant security forces. New developments, more impetus, greater hopes. Also, recently, the Nigerian senate approved a donation of fifty million naira (N50m) to the families of […]
Fashola! Deal first with Nigeria’s many 419 metres!!
On February 01, 2016, new electricity tariffs approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) came into force. In a quick response, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) issued an ultimatum for a reversal of the new tariffs or else they would shut down the nation.
The Supreme Court and the ordinary man
Not many people know my uncle, Sir Ajayi Edobor that I often refer to in this column because of his impact on me as a young man. It was from him I learnt the technique of the communication of the deaf which I later found to be popular in government which behaves as if it does not hear what the people say. He has in earnest always served as my ever-ready barometer for measuring how the ordinary man sees every government policy.
Congrats Governors Wike and Ishaku, but….
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike must have been greatly relieved when the Supreme Court last Wednesday confirmed him as the rightful winner of the 2015 governorship election in his state. The Apex Court upheld the elections of Wike with a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel whose lead judgment was read by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. Not-withstanding that the details of the judgment will not be available until February 12, 2016, it is only fair at this point for Wike’s critics including this column to congratulate him for emerging victorious in the laborious venture called election in Nigeria.
Now that the budget has been found, what next?
Can the 2016 budget change our fate? We hope it does. Anyway, now that the alleged missing document has been found along with the thief, there is no need for prosecution; instead let us merely use its content for the benefit of Nigerians. We are not even sure if the theft would not be beneficial in due course. In this regard, the rumour that the Presidency has reduced the allocation for exotic cars by N7billion is heart warming. So is the other story that the allocation to the State House Medical Centre has also been rationalized. But who uses the centre – is it the same people who fly abroad to treat headache or is that one of changes we should look out for?
Let’s take steps to tame our political class
The Bayelsa state governorship election has finally ended with the declaration of Governor Sieraki Dickson, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election. Before the contest, a number of perverse things took place. One of them was the reported bombing a few hours to the election of the country home of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, which was attributed to the handiwork of some masked men.
