THE Senate made some of us proud on Wednesday when it pushed Nigeria into the record books; passing 46 bills in ten minutes. That is less than 13 seconds per bill. Even in the 100 metres race, that can fetch a gold medal.

African people who have no rights are beaten, kicked and killed; men, women and children. They are citizens who can, and are deported. Their natural resources are exploited without their consent, and from these, they derive no benefits.

By Owei Lakemfa LAST week was one of despair and hope. Collapse and revival. It was a week of exit, and an entry in which President Muhammadu Buhari gave a loaded inaugural speech which like a mini-skirt was revealing, but gave nothing away. Will he probe the past? He seems to say no, with his […]

WEST Africans were more united in pre-colonial times than under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which turned forty years yesterday, Thursday, May 28, 2015. There was generally, free movement of persons in the region before the colonialists, mainly French and British, imposed artificial boundaries even amongst the same ethnic group and introduced custom duties which have since then restricted movement and prevented integration.

By Owei Lakemfa PROLOGUE Change is natural and normal. Life is not static; like the sea, it is in a continuous, sometimes, turbulent flow. Since change is inevitable, it can be amazing that there are people who fear it. Whatever the case, it is futile to stop an idea whose time has come. Human beings, […]

NIGERIA is on the highway. This Friday, May 29, 2015, as we approach a major T- Junction, we shall stop to change drivers. Brother Goodluck Jonathan, who has driven us since February 10, 2010, will handover the steering to Comrade Muhammadu Buhari. As Buhari takes us to the T-Junction, we would either turn right, and start doing things right, or left, and continue on the familiar road of dependency, consumerism, ruinous market forces, prodigal privatisation, fuel importation rather than refining, and neo-liberal policies that take, rather than create jobs. Then, it will be business as usual.

THERE is a wounded lion on the rampage in Africa. Before the attack on him, President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi and his pride had killed at least fourteen people, injured over two hundred and sent tens of thousands scampering into exile especially on the shores of Lake Tangayika and into Rwanda.

A FORTNIGHT ago, I was in Lagos and with my travelling companions, we were heading for Ibadan. We were low on fuel, but the fuel stations were mini theatres of war. As we passed them, we could see low intensive combats going on. There was of course the option of the black market. But it was selling for N210 per litre in comparison with the official N87. The other problem is that at this parallel market, you could be sold adulterated fuel. We concluded that Ibadan was a saner place to buy fuel.

THE tidal waves of the Baltimore protests against the police murder of African American, Freddie Gray are still spreading. Last week, the waves made a fall in London. But it is just one of the latest murders by the American police and more are likely to follow with the usual response of indignation and protests.

THE world knows the worth of an American citizen. The United States (US) insists that its citizens be ruled by American, not international laws. The US can use African Americans and Latinos for target practice. But outside its shores, the American State can stake all it has to defend an American citizen of whatever colour.

THE attacks against African migrants in South Africa drowned a salutary step taken by that country against a major symbol of racism in the continent. After occupying a pride of place on the campus of the Cape Coast University, South Africa, the statue of British imperialist, Cecil John Rhodes unveiled 81 years ago, was removed on April 8, 2015. It was the culmination of protests by students, lecturers and other South African patriots.

IN early 2012, a television station invited me, as Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to its early morning programme in Abuja. I was to discuss the State of the Nation with particular reference to the economy and well being of Nigerians. I arrived as scheduled, but was told the live programme was to be delayed as two other persons had been invited.

POPE Francis unfortunately, fell victim of the academics and politicians who coloured the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide. To this group, genocide is genocide depending on the perpetrators and the victims. However, if the perpetrators are powerful or have strong allies, genocide become mere murder, killings or at worst, massacres.

IT struck like a thunderbolt from the blues. It was an unexpected goal; against the run of play. One second, Suleiman Abba was Inspector General of Police (IGP) the next, he was gone with the wind in what can be called Hurricane Jonathan. It was the second time in two weeks President Goodluck Jonathan was making unexpected moves, leaving most of us clueless.

HUMAN beings are first migrants. Then they become settlers and settlers become citizens. In every clime, it is not so much your status, but your contributions. Kenneth Kaunda was synonymous with Zambia.