In promulgating decree 24 on May 5, 1999 as the 1999 Constitution, the then Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, made an addendum to the decree. The addendum was not part of the decree, it was just an explanation on the Constitution. General Abubakar […]

From last week,  this is the concluding part of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s counter-submission in response to that of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on the declaration of a state of emergency in the Western Region following the Action Group crisis there. “Thirdly I say- I said it outside this House and I want to repeat it on […]

From last week, continues the counter-motion by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in response to that of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on the declaration of a state of emergency in the Western Region following the Action Group crisis there. “I was present there myself and when I left that Chamber, those who were outside the Chamber did […]

From last week, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa today concludes his motion on the declaration of a state of emergency in the Western Region following the Action Group crisis there. “I solemnly assure you that the power we shall soon be forced to assume will be exercised in as humane and democratic a manner as the circumstances […]

From last week, continues the statement by  Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, explaining why he permitted the meeting of the Western House of Assembly  following the Action Group crisis and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency in the Western Region It must be on the strict understanding that there will be no police protection within […]

From last week, the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, on May 29, 1962, summoned an emergency meeting of the Federal House of Representatives which was then the Federal Parliament in Lagos and moved a motion on the Action Group crisis  The motion reads thus: “I rise to move the Resolution standing in my name which […]

The first head of government that declared a state of emergency in Nigeria was the then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (December 1912 – January 15, 1966) and that was in May 1962. I was a student then at Olofin Anglican Grammar School in Idanre in Ondo State, along with Folu Olamiti, Prince Wale Olateru-Olagbegi, […]

This is the concluding part of the narrative on the life of the Nigerian journalist after retirement. The focus last week was on journalism as a developing profession and journalists striving to adapt to new technology,  or practising digital journalism, with   some of them now bloggers who work from the comfort of their homes I […]

From last week, continues the narrative on the life of the Nigerian journalist and why, unlike a civil servant who retires after the age of 60 years or after 35 years in service, he has no retirement age. So, instead of life after retirement for journalists, the appropriate topic to write on should be: ‘Life […]

From last week, continues the narrative on the life of the Nigerian journalist, his contributions to national development over the years, right from the emergence of the earliest media houses in the country In January 1970, the The DAILY TIMES published an editorial pleading that Nigeria must adopt left hand drive policy.  On January 30 of […]

I share some similarities with Comrade Jola Ogunlusi. Before 1996, we were both from the old Ondo State. I am from Idanre in Idanre local government of Ondo State, while he is from Esun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State. Longevity runs in his family. His father died at the age of 131, […]

From last week, this is the fifth and concluding part of this discourse which traces and recalls developments from the First Republic, touching base on the Babangida military regime which in line with its political transition programme set up a Constituent Assembly to draw up a draft for a new constitution for the country. The […]

From last week, continues the list of the principal officers of the First Republic Northern Peoples Congress   which existed as a political party to pursue and advance the political and economic interests of the then Northern Region.  Others were Mr. Michael Audu Buba, Alhaji Shehu Usman, Galadima Maska, Habib Raji Abdullahi, Alhaji Mu’azu Gambo, Alhaji Sani […]

From last week, continues the  narrative on the rise and fall of political parties, with reference to the crisis presently afflicting both the APC and PDP, an argument that the development is a familiar story traceable to political parties that held sway during the First and Second Republics The possibility of a single party structure […]

From last week, continues the  narrative on the rise and fall of political parties, with reference to the PDP whose chairman boasted in 2008 that it was going to be in power for the next 60 years. The party lost its dominance in 2015, paving the way for the emergence of the APC.  The PDP […]