OVER the years, the recurrent themes at gatherings of the Ijaw (Ezon) people include marginalisation despite producing most of the oil that sustains the country’s economy. They are about environmental pollution, deprivation rather than derivation and resource control.

WITH the 42-year old Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, meeting in December to decide on the divisive application of the North African Kingdom of Morocco to join, an all-inclusive public forum was held in Abuja.

IT was the largest gathering of highly educated persons I have ever attended, or heard about on the continent. The quality of the academics and the cost that would have been incurred educating them is unquantifiable. The vice chancellors, VCs of all 148 universities in the country (that is already a minimum of 148 experienced professors), the rectors of 83 polytechnics and provosts of 37 Colleges of Education, COEs and all their registrars, gathering under one roof to determine admissions into tertiary institutions in the country for the 2017/2018 Academic Session.

Perhaps if Ali Jinnah knew 70 years ago, that his beloved Pakistan would turn out to be the politically unstable, insecure, terror-ridden country, he might not have demanded separation

A wise man is he who imbibes the wisdom of other people; Nigerian leaders need to imbibe the wisdom of other leaders and steer the country from the rough seas of insecurity, incompetence, parochialism and want, to the calm harbor of inclusive development

THE famous psychiatrist and Pan-Africanist, Franz Fanon after a clinical study, came to the conclusion that “Colonialism is a one-arm bandit”. No colonial power better illustrated this than Great Britain which in its quest for power and colonies, invaded about 90 percent of the 195 countries in today’s world. In fact, only 22 countries escaped invasion by Britain. In Africa for instance which has 55 countries, only seven; Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Sao Tome, Chad, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire escaped British  invasion.

WE are a troubled people. Except for Boko Haram, Nigeria is not at war. But in another sense, we are; we are like a man fighting himself and wondering why peace continues to prevail. From various parts of the country, different groups are making calls and declaring their intention to create their own ‘republic’. In the last few months, I have been decreed, without consultation or my consent, into at least four of these imaginary countries. One group tells me I will be a citizen of a futuristic “Biafra Republic”; another says I am zoned into the “Ijaw Republic”; yet another has me in the “Republic of Niger Delta”; while a fourth says I will belong to “Bendel Republic”.

SKILLFUL traditional dancer, Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, narrowly danced  out of impeachment  three days ago. His nimble political feet enabled him by a slim 21-vote difference to continue his performance in office.  He has been in office since 2009 and has two years left, but the unrelenting opposition went for an eighth attempt to remove him.

THERE is a deadly struggle in Venezuela. The government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition have removed the gloves of democracy and are exchanging the bare knuckles of anarchism. Matters got to a head when this week, July 30, over eight million voters or 41.5 percent of registered voters elected a Constituent Assembly that can amend the constitution.

Dr Olu Onagoruwa, armed with a PhD in Law, a glorious practice in journalism, solid experience in the classroom, rich political activism, a sword and shield of righteousness and a burning sense of patriotism, went into the den of military dictatorship.