President Abraham Lincoln was bidding for another term of office in the final days of the American civil war in 1864. He shocked the war-torn nation by dropping his Vice President and fellow Republican, Hannibal Hamlin, and chose Andrew Johnson, a ‘War Democrat’ from Tennessee, as his running mate. American Historians adduce two major reasons for this. The very bloody American civil war divided the country between the Union (the US national government and the 23 free states and five states at the border that supported it) and the Confederate States of America (11 states in the South that opposed the Union). With victory over the Confederacy/South now almost a fait accompli, Lincoln wanted to demonstrate leniency and that all he was after was America’s unity, not conquest and retribution.

WHEN the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa declared after the five-hour meeting with Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, governors of Niger Delta states, service chiefs and others, Tuesday, in Abuja that panacea to the renewed militancy in the region, was on the way, those who heard the outcome were in high spirits. “We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states, particularly Bayelsa and Delta. We believe we are going to find a solution to it,” the governor stated.

WARRI- ON the record, two persons died and 11 injured in a fresh outbreak of hostilities between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities in Warri South-West and Udu Local Government Areas of Delta State, but numerous corpses, suspected to be those of cultists hired by one of the parties in the bloody fight, were reportedly littering the wooded area unaccounted for. Farmers, who went to the bush, squealed to leaders of one of two communities, but those that recruited them have not informed the families of the deceased persons of the whereabouts of their wards until date.

In March of 2016, during a National Economic Council retreat, the following was reported, “Mr. Buhari advised state governments to increase their financial support through community groups.” This report implied that President Buhari was keen on seeing that states and State Governors worked towards achieving financial self-sufficiency through internally generated revenue. However, recent actions of the Buhari administration appear to negate this implied goal of encouraging states to be financially self-sufficient. In short, a series of actions so far by the Buhari administration appears to be fueling a concept and problem known as “Moral Hazard” among states and state governors, which negates the possibility that financial self-sufficiency will be achieved by states under the Buhari administration.

In March of 2016, during a National Economic Council retreat, the following was reported, “Mr. Buhari advised state governments to increase their financial support through community groups.” This report implied that President Buhari was keen on seeing that states and State Governors worked towards achieving financial self-sufficiency through internally generated revenue. However, recent actions of the Buhari administration appear to negate this implied goal of encouraging states to be financially self-sufficient. In short, a series of actions so far by the Buhari administration appears to be fueling a concept and problem known as “Moral Hazard” among states and state governors, which negates the possibility that financial self-sufficiency will be achieved by states under the Buhari administration.

The launch last week of the “Clean Hands” initiative by the EFCC indicates that the anti-corruption agency is beginning to move in the right direction. Any institution set up to combat a prevailing social challenge should realize that the measure of its effectiveness should be in the prevention rather than cure. The launch of the “Clean Hands” project indicates that EFCC under its current leadership is prepared to embrace a new way of thinking and accept a new interpretation of its role. EFCC is beginning to realize that all the years of ruthless devotion to catching people and throwing them in detentions have hardly dented the huge problem of corruption in Nigeria. With this new initiative, EFCC is bringing preventive advocacy to the heart of its operation. This should be commended.

His every move was calm and deliberate as if he was scared of attracting unnecessary attention, but his gaze was directed at the baby in his hands. With eyes full of emotions and compassion as he lovingly cuddled the four-month-old baby, it was extremely difficult for onlookers to believe the man was a member of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group.

Success indeed rolls into success, and so it is no surprise that the Diamond Jubilee of the Nigerian Navy is attracting the high-level international participation. At least 26 naval chiefs and flag officers from international navies are expected to grace next week’s international conference on maritime security which is part of the activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the Navy. The high level participation also affirms the nation’s increasing position as one of the naval powers in Africa.

Just when Benue farmers were beginning to enjoy some respite from the incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen, the dear-devil marauders struck again last Friday night at Tarfi village, Binnev Ward in Buruku local government area of the state, and in their usual fashion killed scores, injuring many and razing down houses and several property. The Buruku massacre came on the hills of a similar incident at Agatu where over 500 were killed and Tse Tia village in Tarka local government area, where the youth leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Aondohemba Kasa and three others were also butchered in cold blood.

THE riddle security forces are battling to unravel in the Niger Delta is: Who are Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, the newborn militant group that has gone haywire in the region? Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward. It is complicated.