AS preparations for the November 2019 off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states pick up, the vexed matter of prohibitive and non-refundable expression of interest and nomination fees in the major two political parties – the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP – come back into focus.

IN May 1807, Britain abolished the slave trade. A few months later on January 1, 1808, the US followed suit. Thus, slave trade, man’s greatest inhumanity to man perpetrated mainly against Blacks and Africans, became an international taboo, though it continued (albeit illegally) in some parts of the world where religion and culture accommodated it.

FOR the generality of Nigerians, especially those who place very high premium and esteem on President Muhammadu Buhari’s much-touted personal integrity, the Presidency’s rebuttal of the growing rumour that he could be shuffling towards a possible “third term” agenda came as a great relief and reassurance.

IT must have come as a shock to many Nigerians when the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police recently revealed that it combed the city and arrested no less than 87 suspects, including three Boko Haram commanders and others paraded for armed robbery, kidnapping, theft and banditry.

LAST week’s turn of events in a Nigerian court over the Process & Industrial Development Limited, P&ID, group appears to have given some ray of hope to the distraught band of Nigerian public policy executives who have responsibility for salvaging the nation from the scandalous transaction and the subsequent judgement debt. But it is still too early to celebrate.