The announcement a few days back by President Muhammadu Buhari that the present federal executive council would soon be expanded to bring in more ministers must have come as a welcome relief to some Nigerians.

Civilian President Buhari, in 2017, the expected dragon-slayer, who developed a reputation as Military Head of State, 1984-85, for fighting corruption to a standstill is now a poor shadow of the young leader. Time and his friends had diminished him.

First, let me note that the IPOB has neither the mandate, nor the power, nor the unction to call for, or enforce a boycott of the coming elections in Anambra state. The Anambra electorate will shoot themselves on the feet if they heed any such foolish call. They would have left their fate for the next four years at least, in the hands of someone of whom they’d have no hand in the making, and who would therefore be less obligated to them, and less amenable to serve their interests, but the narrow interests that would ultimately win, should people boycott the elections, and thus the opportunity to stake their claims, and vote the individual of their choice.

The mischief makers are at it again: in fact, they have never stopped stirring trouble. It is hard for some people when they feel they have not been invited to a gathering then they have to gate crash the party; the only trouble is, it was never a closed gathering; it has always been an open invite. Nation building requires everyone to contribute. 

Looking back after over four decades, a plausible case can be made that Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s conciliatory “No victor,  no vanquished” pronouncement when Biafra surrendered was largely insincere because his words were not backed by adequate concrete actions to help easterners recover from their devastating losses