THE outcry over the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a bit late in the day. Politicians and their parties have often seen advantages they could gain from the foibles of INEC, which makes strong cases for itself about its imperfections. It expects us to claim them, maybe, as national assets. INEC believes in the magic of words. It is ready for every election.

OIL has a central importance in our lives. Some have reasoned that without the easy revenue oil heaves into government coffers, the attractions of elective office would have dried up long ago. Oil runs government budgets, and with it the web of corruption often associated with oil. An erroneous belief that relevance of oil approximates […]

THE increasing cruelties our society harbours have moved to insistent assaults on children by guardians, who descend on their wards with the most puerile excuses.Gory media images of children dismembered, beaten to death, with shrivelled fingers, or reduced to skeletons are becoming common.

ABOUT a fortnight ago, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badey, to the surprise of many Nigerians, gleefully announced a ceasefire with the Boko Haram insurgents. He also disclosed that a deal brokered by the Chadian President, Mr Idris Derby, would see to the release of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped over six months ago.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is a busy man. We have reasons to assume so. The insecurity in the North-East, the turmoil in his party, and debates about how well he has run Nigeria, should fully occupy anyone.