Why I can never forget June 12, by Tonnie Iredia
On June 12, 1993, Nigeria held a presidential election which was internationally accepted as the best in the nation’s history. But the government of the day turned it into pyrrhic victory for the winner of the polls. The election has however remained significant because none other, either before or after it has come close by […]
Who says change may not come?
At an informal gathering a few days back, some discussants expressed concern over the possibility of the much awaited change in the nation’s public affairs turning out to be a mirage. Their position is based on a number of concerns.
A Second look at Nasarawa’s Governor Al-makura
Virtually everyone who knows Umaru Tanko Al-makura, the incumbent Governor of Nasarawa State would testify that the man is an achiever having made a success of every previous assignment he handled. As if he was destined to take Nasarawa out of the woods, he sought to reverse with much passion his discovery that the state had “since its creation been held hostage to the folly and excesses of its rulers”, Governor Al-makura on assumption of office, did two rather simple things which his predecessor for inexplicable reasons couldn’t dare.
It’s time to support INEC
Not many Nigerians have in the last 4 years criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as much as this columnist. A few of the issues which influenced the posture can be recalled for ease of reference. First, Prof Attahiru Jega, chairman of the commission at his screening by the Senate, hinted that under him there would be massive voter education, aimed at bringing about attitudinal change among the citizenry. We thought the National Orientation Agency and the media would handle the assignment better. On November 11, 2010, INEC was reported to have told the fifth Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) summit in Lagos that it had adopted the option for resolving political and pre-election disputes. We were not persuaded that it is INEC and not the Judiciary that should develop grey hairs over the settlement of election disputes.
Wanted in Nigeria: A more Proactive Legislature
The Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria 1999 provides for a National Assembly made up of 2 bodies, the Senate and the House of representatives. It also creates a House of Assembly in each state of the federation. But does Nigeria at the federal level really require a bi-camera legislature, that is, two branches of a legislature whrn both bodies have the same mandate –to make laws for the good governance of Nigeria?
When will the Nigerian Broadcast Media grow?
Confronted severally about a so called golden era of broadcasting in Nigeria, the first point of interest of a young journalist whenever he comes across a much older colleague is to plead for some comparison between the state of the media today and what obtained in the past in the country.
