Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye clocked 80 two Fridays ago, precisely February 8, 2013.
An economist, seasoned administrator and former President of the Alumni of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, which is the highest body for policy formulation and leadership training in the public sector of Nigeria, the Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State- born democrat put in 35 years of meritorious service in the public service including 28 years in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) where he rose to the position of Director. In 1992, he was an aspirant to the office of the President of Nigeria on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). He later became an elected Senator of the Republic (1999-2003).Durojaiye, currently a constitutional lawyer, speaks, in this interview, on many issues.

Ever since the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika, ordered the redeployment of Major General Mohammed Isah, the former Commander, Infantry Corps and Centre, co-located with the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji that was bombed by Boko Haram terrorists, last November, the COAS has known no peace.

Prince Tony Momoh, 72, is a journalist, lawyer and politician. He was the Minister of Information and Culture (1986–1990) during the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, when he concurrently operated as Chairman, African Conference of Information Ministers (1988-1990). He became the Chairman, Board of Directors of Nigerian Airways (1991-1993) and was elected National Chairman, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in January 2011. Momoh, an Auchi, Edo State-born author, for two hours, spoke to Sunday Vanguard in his office in Abuja on his new book, “Echoes From The Past”, the ride by the opposition parties toward the formation of a mega party and rounded it off by saying, “2015 elections will be fought at the polling units not in courts.”

Dr Simon Imuekheme is one leader in Edo State who assisted in the stabilization of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led administration from its inception in 2008. He was Permanent Secretary, Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government until November 9, 2012, when the State Executive Council was dissolved. Following his accomplishments in the civil service, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) honoured him.

“CAPTAIN” Mark Anthony was the spokesperson for the Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, a defunct militant group, led by “General” John Togo who was killed in a bombardment by the Joint Task Force, JTF, on Niger-Delta in 2010. Togo initially accepted amnesty in 2009, but reneged when he returned to the creeks to wage a fresh oil war.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Sam Tsokwa (PDP Taraba) heads a very vital committee which could be likened to the engine room of the Green Chambers of the National Assembly. In this no-holds-barred interview he granted to a group of journalists, he postulated that the Farouk Lawan saga was contrived by the executive arm of Government to rubbish the report of the House Committee on Petroleum Subsidy which the embattled Lawan chaired.He asked why the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar who investigated the allegations against Farouk refused to charge him to court?

As the deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and an associate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, a retired navy commodore, bestrode the south-west PDP like a colossus. Severally, he went on collision with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) government in Lagos, his home state, under the leadership of Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Then he fell from grace to grass after he was convicted of fraud while he was the chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). In this interview, Bode George tells the story of his imprisonment which he attributes to politics.

The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexander Polyakov, speaks on the crisis in Syria.According to him, the position of his home government is that solution to the crisis lies in political dialogue between the government and the opposition.

In view of the recent communal clashes that have displaced over 12,500 persons in four villages in Nasarawa state last week, many displaced are still living in apprehension of possible reprisal attacks though the governor assured them of adequate security while urging them to return to their respective domains

Former National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs Josephine Anenih was in Benin City last Monday for a sensitization training on rights of persons living with HIV/ AIDS. She spoke passionately about the rights of victims and women in politics. Saturday Vanguard in this interview discusses the rights of victims. She also speaks on the PDP crisis and other national issues.