Senator Ahmad Zannah Khalifa represents Borno Central Senatorial District in the Senate. In this interview, he tells the story of Boko Haram from his own perspective, saying over 100, 000 people have died as a result of the insurgency in his state and accuses government of complicity on the killings. Excerpts:

The Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega last Monday in an interactive session with Editors in Lagos talked about the preparations being made for the 2015 general elections especially the Osun and Ekiti gubernatorial elections . He also spoke on the mistakes made by the commission in the past and efforts being made to avoid repeating them in future.

The House voted via Section 153 to establish an Electoral Offences Commission as one of the federal bodies in the Constitution. This is a bold attempt by the House to tackle the hydra-headed problem of electoral integrity and ensure effective sanctions for electoral malpractices. Furthermore, the word “Executive”, in the Section was expunged as it was felt that some of the bodies listed therein, like the National Judicial Council cannot really be called “an executive body”. The House also voted to establish an Electoral Offences Tribunal.

So with Sen. Ladoja, I have a good relationship and I have no fear about him. If he wants to run (for governorship), we will meet on the field. We are ready for him.

In this interview, he knocks governors, who defected from the PDP to the opposition, saying they should be honourable enough to step down and also insists that many northern politicians who are opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 are acting in their own selfish agenda, as they do not have the blessing of the North. He also says the current National Conference can be used to make some fundamental constitutional amendments despite the short time at the disposal of the delegates.

However, since 2012, that project has also benefited from enhanced funding as result of funds from the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P). As a result of the SURE-P funds and some other funds we are trying to access, I want assure you that the entire corridor would be rehabilitated

Onolememen presents himself as an individual who knows the situation of Nigerian roads like the back of his hand. He speaks on what the Jonathan administration is doing to fix the roads and the challenges that go with it.

As apprehension and permutation thickens on who becomes the next governor of Lagos State, the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola, last Tuesday met with Lagos State House correspondents at the state House, Marina, Lagos Island and opened up on a number of issues, particularly who succeeds him come 2015.

Prince Kassim Afegbua is Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. In the wake of defection of Senator Uzamere, the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, where he gave some reasons for his defection, Prince Afegbua spoke to Weekend Vanguard, in reaction to some of the claims by the defected Senator; excerpts:

Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State is a lawyer, Administrator, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and a member of PDP National Executive Committee, NEC. In this interview with select Journalists, Shema bared his mind on his developmental agenda in his state, completion of projects started by his predecessor, late President Umaru YarAdua, 2015 Presidential bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, crisis in PDP, in Rivers State, the way forward, and other salient issues. there.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the Akpakpavighivighi of Edo land, was recently honoured by the palace of the Oba of Benin with the chieftaincy title. In his joyous mood at his Benin City residence, he bared his mind on the proposed National Conference, saying that though President Gooduck must be commended, the conference will be another jamboree if several issues are not taken care off before the kick off.

Nduese Essien, former Minister of Lands and Housing, was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007 during which he served as the Chairman of the South-South Parliamentary Caucus in the NASS. He also served as a member of the Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Niger Delta and Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-corruption, National Ethics and Values.

He comes from an area of this country that has not tasted power before now. Even if Jonathan says today that he cannot do a second term, do you think the people of the South-south would just sit down and allow him to go like that so that they wait for another 40 years before they can take power again? Then, he would not go back to Yenagoa. That is the reality and it is not a personal decision but a collective decision in a country where power continues to shift. It is the turn of the South-south and they want to do their complete term and conclude it. They seem to be telling Jonathan, ‘Look, you are the one who was given the mandate, don’t chicken out’.

In this session with Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, he explains the style of administration that has been put in place in the state such that successive governments can build and improve on what has been achieved so far. He also takes a swipe at President Goodluck
Jonathan and his aides who say no administration in the history of Nigeria has done as much as theirs.
You will find him as interesting as ever, with views that are unique both in thought and presentation.

Hon Wole Oke is one of the leading governorship aspirants of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Osun State for this year’s August 9, governorship election. The two- term member of the House of Representatives spoke with journalists on his aspiration and chances of picking his party’s ticket.