WATCHING former Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, last Friday answering questions on why he took Britain to war in Iraq, I felt very sad about my country all over again.

HAPPY New Year, folks! Sorry I did not sign off formally when I proceeded on my annual vacation which, by the way, is still on-going. You know how things can get sometimes. I just had to pop in and say my mind on a couple of issues. The first is the phenomenon whereby Nigeria produced her first international terrorist.

Once upon a time in this country, election petitions were settled within the two-month intervals between the polls and swearing-in of elected officials. For instance, the staggered elections of 1979 culminated in the presidential poll on August 11, 1979.

A few weeks after the ex-militants reported to camp, it became obvious that Nigeria would always be Nigeria, even when the most serious issues that threaten the survival of Nigeria is involved.

SINCE Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo entered the race for the governorship of Anambra State a few months ago, he must have gone through enough experience to make his five-year sojourn at the Central Bank of Nigeria a child’s play.

By Ochereome Nnanna I HAVE never been in the habit of blaming political appointees for acts of omission and commission in government. I am a firm believer that as the buck stops on the table of the chief executive officer, and since he hires and fires these appointees, he must answer for any fault of […]

THERE has been a tendency to play safe on the part of the Nigerian media with regard to the latest hospitalisation of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The Tribune Newspapers have been the boldest in covering all angles it believes relevant to the developing news.

They were General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Chinua Achebe and Chief Gani Oyesola Fawehinmi. My reason for embracing the project was to give honour to whom it was due and encourage others to live the life of heroes who will inspire the young and old of this nation to great endeavours.

MONDAY, November 21, 2009 is a day our Information and Communications Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili is unlikely to forget in a hurry.

THE feud between the Senate and House of Reps, which thwarted the presentation of the 2010 Appropriation Bill by President Umaru Yar’ Adua reminds us of the parable of the two foolish goats at the precipice. There was a narrow precipice, so narrow that only one animal could cross at a time. First, two lambs started crossing.

THIS two-part series is a response to Hon Gozie Agbakoba’s Bill in the House of Reps seeking to convert Nigerian citizens that have dwelt continuously in any part of Nigeria to indigenes with full benefits.

A Bill in the House of Representatives seeking to convert citizens who have lived in a state for 10 years into indigenes is said to be enjoying the cold attention of legislators. Sponsored by Hon Gozie Agbakoba, it says that any Nigerian who has lived peacefully in a state for 10 unbroken years and fulfilling all his civic obligations shall be entitled to privileges of an indigene, including scholarship, appointments to public office and voting and being voted for.

POOR leadership in Nigeria starts from picking the team list. Nigerian leaders have rarely demonstrated visionary thoroughness in choosing the people with whom to work.

AT a recent public ceremony in Ngwa land, the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, declared his readiness to offer amnesty to repentant kidnappers.

THERE are two local expressions synonymous with being behind bars that I know. The first is “smelling rod”. The second is “eating beans”.