Will I ever get tired of coming to the Punk Palace for scoops? I don’t think so. When I put a call through to the Punk King, Charly Boy a.k.a. Area Fada, requesting to interview the grand master of the Nigerian judiciary, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa (rtd), my expectations were naturally high. The excitement level was the same every time one gets the chance to sip from the human fountain of knowledge as represented in the retired judicial giant. Every minute spent in his presence leaves you feeling like one who’s had an encyclopedia of knowledge implanted in the brains. On this cool and breezy afternoon, as I sat and waited in the Punk Palace bush bar, Charly Boy clad in his boxers and T-shirt, his father, the Justice holding on to a half empty bottle of small stout and a filled glass sauntered in.

Dr. Abdullahi Adamu is a two-term governor of Nasarawa State. Adamu, a lawyer, farmer and politician, is a member of the Senate. In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, he speaks on critical issues that could shape the polity for the better in weeks and months to come. For Adamu, who had served as a party chairman, Board of Trustees, Secretary, former minister, president of farmers’ association and now a law maker, he is eminently positioned to assess Nigeria at a time like this.

Born into the royal families of Olugbo, Alagho, Olubo and Etikan in Ilaje LGA, Ondo State on October 1, 1967, Rev. Dr. Felix Rawa, is the Chairman/Managing Director, Unique Sunshine Global Concepts Nigeria Ltd, is a politician and philanthropist. He attended L.A. Primary School, Obe Idapo, Ugbo Kingdom between 1972 and 1978 and proceeded to Idi-Ogba Community Grammar School for his WASC between 1979 and 1984.

Former Governor of Edo State, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, Professor of Law and member of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, recently had a chat with Sunday Vanguard on burning issues in the country among which are the six-year single term proposal, Islamic banking, President Jonathan’s transformation agenda and the Edo PDP imbroglio.
For a man who has been out of public glare since that infamous loss of his gubernatorial seat in 2008 – yes infamous, according to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders who saw the loss as a function of the fight in the ranks of the leaders.

I PARTICIPATED in those meetings because we were friends. He was my friend; I will say a good friend. The only thing that went wrong was that the election was annulled. It did not affect our personal relationship. At best, I will say we had an ideological difference from that point.
People hold you responsible for many of the problems the country faces – the annulled 1993 election, corruption, and the economy.

AS we waited to interview General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the most talked about person to have ever ruled Nigeria, the serenity of the Hilltop Mansion, Minna, was interrupted only by the steady humming of the air-conditioner in the waiting room. The simplicity of the place belies the myths that have been woven round the place. Once before him, the first shocker was from aides who said we had only 15 minutes. The General wanted the ground rules set. “No political questions,” he said.We agreed, provided he decided which questions were political. Again he was reminded there were other engagements, but he asked us to continue. His generosity with his time continued after, as he took us round the office, explaining other sides of the story of his life with pictures (which we copied) he took with friends and family. IBB, as he more popularly known, spoke with a carefulness that reflected his unwillingness to discuss politics beyond a certain depth…

In this interview with Gambo Lawan, aspirant for the position of national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he exudes an uncommon confidence about the possibility of winning the election to the position.
For Lawan, he believes his organizational abilities are more than enough to earn him the position.
On the issue of godfatherism as a factor that would determine who eventually becomes the PDP national chairman, Lawan’s sense of pride came alive: First of all, the Almighty God is my godfather.

Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition, NDC, of Liberia, Professor Ambassador Dew Tuan Wreh Mayson, stands accused of being too committed to the Liberian cause. He should.
As one of those who worked for the victory of the incumbent, President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, he expresses disappointment at the turn of events in his country. Prof. Mayson today is the presidential candidate of the opposition coalition comprising eight political parties and the figures continue to swell. Whereas it is early days yet, regarding the weight the opposition is capable of pulling in its bid to unseat Johnson, Prof. Mayson and the opposition politicians believe that “What would keep the coalition together is exactly what brought it together – the need to come together in order to win and the need to stay together in order to help raise the standard of living of our people. In our manifesto, these things are stated clearly and the points refer to some of the basic things our people need and it binds us together. Yes, there are varying ideologies in the parties but there is one consuming ideology and which is to see a better Liberia for our people by voting out this government”. He insists that October’s presidential election in the country would be a golden opportunity for the people to define a new path to greatness and unity.

Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition, NDC, of Liberia, Professor Ambassador Dew Tuan Wreh Mayson, stands accused of being too committed to the Liberian cause. He should.
As one of those who worked for the victory of the incumbent, President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, he expresses disappointment at the turn of events in his country. Prof. Mayson today is the presidential candidate of the opposition coalition comprising eight political parties and the figures continue to swell. Whereas it is early days yet, regarding the weight the opposition is capable of pulling in its bid to unseat Johnson, Prof. Mayson and the opposition politicians believe that “What would keep the coalition together is exactly what brought it together – the need to come together in order to win and the need to stay together in order to help raise the standard of living of our people. In our manifesto, these things are stated clearly and the points refer to some of the basic things our people need and it binds us together

Alhaji Sefiu Alao a.k.a Omo Oko is a Fuji music star with a mind of his own. Based in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, the recipient of many chieftaincy titles and several awards of honour in his Abeokuta home, says in spite of all his riches, “I’m still working harder to attain the height in the profession.”