THE thrust of the Transformation Agenda at the commencement of the 2011 presidential election campaign was that Nigeria would be transformed into a new nation in various aspects of human endeavours.

The re-election bid by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State was probably his publicly known stiffest challenge in life. The electioneering campaign leading to the July 2012 governorship election in the State was more or less a nightmare for him and his party, the then Action Congress of Nigeria. The heat brought to bear on the contest by the candidate of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was so intense that the previous daily beating of the chest by the governor that he needed no campaign ostensibly because of his development projects virtually fizzled away. Indeed, his tractors and caterpillars that were expected to campaign on his behalf were in reality inanimate.

For some time now there been the incessant furore about the next governor of Lagos State and what religion he should belong to, despite the fact no one had put their hat in the ring. Some had said that there would be trouble if a Christian is not in the government house after the election. These people are trouble rousing and they are being divisive. It would be wise that any selection of candidate should consider, reflect and represent the population they serve, so above all else it should be on merit.

Politics has reached fever pitch in Nigeria; even when the 2015 elections are still seven to eight months away. Not wanting to be left on the starting block, politicians have embarked on doing what they do best – peddling half truths or blatant falsehood against their opponents and in their own favour. The last thing the public should expect is absolute truth from professional politicians. When Louis Howe, 1871-1936, wrote that, “You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain [totally] honest”, (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 192), he left us with an axiom which will stand the test of time.

The MTN Foundation was incorporated in July 2004, to offer a sustainable and focused channel through which MTN Nigeria would drive its corporate social responsibility initiatives in all 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory

A couple of weeks ago, we all woke up to find that our favourite newspapers were off the newsstands. This was something we had not seen for a while, and it took many of us by surprise. Many reasons flew around; many of them too preposterous to mention here.

The first time I heard the phrase “global village” was in the mid 80s. It was a vague concept then because all we had to prove it in this part of the world were air travels and restricted access to telephone which enabled a few people to reach the outside world faster. Beyond that, it was difficult to make sense of it.

As Ekiti State indigenes prepare themselves to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election – which will take place tomorrow – I feel moved to reflect on the character of the incumbent Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, whom I’ve known since we were both young students and workers in London.

There is no doubt that many laymen, not excluding myself, are often confused about some sweet economic jargons and interesting elegant statistical figures being constantly thrown at them. However, some are no longer stranger to the melodious music of macro-economic stability of the domestic economy.

The idea of writing a column with my title today came during my visit to Maiduguri, two weeks ago. The thought was triggered by a number of related ideas. On June1st, 2014, many Nigerian newspapers used on their front pages, a picture of President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving a delegation of the head of the Islamic Tijaniyya Brotherhood, led by Khalifa Sheikh Ahmed TijaniInyass, at the Aso Villa.