IN 1890, the French statesman Jules Francois Camille Ferry wrote, “an irresistible movement is bearing the great nations of Europe towards the conquest of fresh territories. It is like a huge steeplechase into the unknown…whole continents are being annexed…especially the huge black continent so full of fierce mysteries and vague hopes.”

First, I was alarmed when Bode went into politics and joined the PDP and quickly became part of Obasanjo’s inner caucus. I was alarmed because as Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910, had warned us, “If you work with glue, sooner or later you are going to get stuck.” (Vanguard Book of Quotations, p.76). I knew that a PDP under the leadership of Obasanjo was going to be a cesspool of corruption – the sort to be avoided by decent people.

THE coin in issue is Nigeria. A coin is said to have two sides, a head and a tail. The head does not and cannot make the coin; nor can the tail. We then usually say two sides of the same coin, meaning the head side and the tail side. I saw the Nigerian coin at work on October 23.

THE situation the entire world finds itself in is not at all new, technology and interconnectivity of peoples and economies is what gives this particular recession the Armageddon factor. Almost every corner of the globe is affected and while the ricocheting affect will be felt for a while, it will pass, all recessions do.

If you are a woman who is over forty years old, and you have not began to notice some lapses in your memory, then you are very lucky. For most women, memory lapses are a normal part of aging.

Once again, President Yar’Adua has spoken in very clear terms against the immunity clause of the constitution, which makes prosecution of ‘executive criminals’ impossible whilst they are in office. I must admit that I sympathize with Mr president even if I think differently on the subject.

Where are those who say that Nigeria can host the World Cup? Where are those who are still trying to convince the government that we can host the Commonwealth Games and are pulling all strings to start the bidding?

THE only group that seems clear about what it is doing in Afganistan today is the Taliban. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) waits on the United States (US) which is itself confused, while the puppet Hamid Karzai regime, caught rigging elections, faces credibility problems and a run-off on November 7, 2009.

By Donu Kogbara LAST week, I expressed the opinion that President Yar’Adua deserves  two hearty cheers…One “for possessing the humility and foresight to meet with Niger Deltan militant leaders and offer them an Amnesty deal in a bid to secure peace in a region that was becoming increasingly uncontrollable.” And the second “for recognising the […]

IF the granting of amnesty to Niger Delta militants after the laying down of their lethal weapons could be described as a super political step by the President Yar‘Adua, the move, [if it is true] to give oil producing areas a 10 per cent share in the oil and gas Joint Venture is another bold action towards the final solution of the unnecessary Niger Delta imbroglio.