Mrs Taiwo Akinlebi is a multi-talented lady in her fifties, who believes that girls shouldn’t rely solely on educational qualifications for a career or a means of livelihood. Even though she dropped out of secondary school when she couldn’t cope any longer, she embraced fashion-designing and began to earn a good living. Later she added beads-making, which she learnt from her mother.

Before the July 14,2012 Governorship election in Edo State, three different ‘seers’ reportedly saw many sides of the same vision. The first said the incumbent would not win; the second said it is the opposition that would win, while the third said the sitting Governor would win but would not be sworn in. Now that the Governor has been reelected, the so-called seers may have to change their lenses.

“Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn’t blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won’t cheat, then you know he never will. Integrity is not a search for the rewards of integrity. Maybe all you ever get for it is the largest kick in the ass the world can provide. It is not supposed to be a productive asset.” — John D. MacDonald

In a press release by his Special Adviser on Monitoring, Mr. Bernard Mikko, the former General Manager of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, sought to distance himself from his son’s present predicaments. Unfortunately for Tukur and Mikko, they missed the point entirely.

Recently, I drew attention to the decay of Aba, arising mostly from the criminal negligence of a city once known for its vitality and industry. I placed much of the blame at the doorsteps of the current T.A. Orji administration in Umuahia, with the caveat, certainly, that rebuilding Aba would require a concert of efforts. I have not shifted from this position. I am in fact more convincedthat the current administration on Okpara Avenue is not only bereft of ideas, it lacks style and consequence.

This topic attracted reactions from more women than usual, so, it must be something that touched the core of their being. Usually, we have more men writing in to express their views on issues. This time around I was glad that many women wrote in.

Blackmail is widely understood to be a crime where one is coerced to part with something of value, to act under duress or even give up a position to someone who has a leverage of some sort. The person is either in possession of a truth,secret or some information we don’t want shared or may be holding something of some value to coerce us into a compromising position.

It is utterly discomforting to witness a sharp decline in public morality in the way and manner we conduct the business of politics and power game in Nigeria. Public discourse, which should ordinarily sharpen our knowledge and intellectuality, is often grossly abused to fan the embers of disunity and instability.

For a summer holiday that received very little or no planning, it’s shaping up really nicely. My sister in-law turned 70 so it was another opportunity for the family to gather together in that rare and special way that modern day living does not often allow for.

The only thing that is constant is change. That phrase has been used in different scenarios where one finds his or herself,and believe it or not, it is true. When we are born as babies into this cruel world, we evolve quite quickly over time into full grown adults (as it is often said also “na only for belle, pikin dey tay”).

The outcome of the gubernatorial elections in Edo State, where more than 70 percent of the voters underwrote a second term in office for Governor Adams Oshiomohle, is both portentous and evocative.

IN last Tuesday’s Vanguard, Henry Umoru reported that Senator Arthur Nzeribe has accused National Assembly members of lacking the moral courage to impeach President Jonathan for poorly implementing the 2012 budget.

In a period heavily dominated by news of shameful corruption arising out of ‘subsidy scandal‘ and killings and maiming by Nigerians (claims by Boko Haram sect), the election of Adams Oshiomole as Governor of Edo State without the usual violence, is a welcome rarity.

WHEN Blessing Okagbare lined up for the ladies’ 100 meters final, inside the Olympic Stadium in East London, last weekend, she carried the hopes of millions of Nigerians.

IT is not the intention of this column to return to what was said last week. Since senators are already bent on the ludicrous exercise of patching the already patched Constitution, this column shall only attempt to x-ray some of the proposed amendments.