Chief Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele was Minister of Information and Culture; Chairman, National Sports Commission NSC, and Chairman, National Reconciliation Committee. He is recognized not only for his sharp sense of humour, but also for flashiness in his outfits. Akinyele, who is the Lobosin of Ondo Kingdom, is a Public Relations icon, spoke with Saturday Vanguard on his life at 75, Nigeria, the Newswatch saga among other issues.

Last week, owing to the ill treatment meted out to pensioners in the country, and the corruption in the sector that has resulted to several senior citizens suffering untold hardship, the Nigerian Labour Congress and Civil Society Groups threatened a national strike.

DR JOSEPHINE Obiajulu Okei-Odumakin has lived a better part of her life as an activist. She has traversed, courageously, where even some men fear to tread. She remained consistent without minding the hazards to her person in a society where critical voices are loathed by an unjust system which rewards the crook and punishes the just.
Her consistency and unwavering determination for survival of democracy in Nigeria made Professor Wole Soyinka to describe her as “a tireless fighter whose frail bearing bellies an inner strength and resilience purpose, a veteran of affirmative marches, of crude arrests and detentions, baton charges and tear gas who has lent luster to the struggle for justice and human dignity, who remain an inspiration of men and women, old and young.” She was recently honoured in America with the Woman of Courage award.
In this no-holds- barred interaction, she tells her story.

A famous British actor in the popular sitcom Coronation Street, is rueing the flippant words he uttered in a TV interview recently. He had said in the interview, that whatever happens to us is as a result of our actions either in this world or the previous one. In other words, we deserve whatever we get.

Like a straight arrow that knows its target and ready to pierce without missing, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), replies his critics on several allegations reported in the dailies recently. As his voice rang heavily through the tape in this interview, the Chairman of the committee for the resuscitation of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, reveals how the idea of the new UPN was mooted and why he has not involved some stake-holders in the region in the current arrangement.

Chief Guy Ike Ikokwu, second republic chairman of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in Anambra State, was a member of the Strategy Committee that tried to hammer out a merger among four progressive opposition parties to stop the then ruling National Party of Nigeria(NPN).

In this concluding part of the interview by Simon Ebegbulem with Chief Tom Ikimi, the ACN leader says the proposed All Progressive Party Congress (APC) will ensure true competition and balance in the polity

…Reveals how Abacha chased IMF, World Bank out of Abuja
Chief Tom Ikimi is a former Foreign Affairs Minister and one of the leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the forefront of the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC). In this interview, he speaks on the controversy the issue of registration of the new party has generated. He also speaks on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. Ikimi notes the criticisms against the late General Sani Abacha under whom he served as minister, saying the former military leader did his best in the upliftment of the economy of the nation contrary to what Nigerians are experiencing today. Excerpts:

…Insists there is ‘squandering of riches’
Since the controversy stirred by her mentoring speech delivered to the graduating students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, late last year, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili spoke extensively last Wednesday during Channels’ TV magazine programme, Sunrise Daily. Here are excerpts from that televised interview

Bosun Oladele, Principal Partner/Chief Executive Officer of Oladele & Oladele Solicitors, Lagos, was Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s first Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Oyo State. He was relieved of his appointment on the 6th of November, 2012 along with two other members of the cabinet. But while many received his sack news as a rude shock, Oladele described it as a routine event that must happen in the life of man.

Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare (ACN, Osun East) is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter Governmental Affairs. He also serves on the Senate Committee of Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; Rules and Business; Sports and Social Development.
In this interview, Omoworare bares his mind on President Goodluck Jonathan administration, the Senate, and Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration, among other issues of national importance.

Recently, at the biennial convention of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr. Femi Adesina, the Deputy Managing Director of Sun Newspapers, succeeded Mr Gbenga Adefaye Editor-in-Chief/GM Publications of Vanguard Newspapers.

Emeka Wogu, lawyer and politician, has set a record in the political history of Nigeria, as one of the youngest Nigerian politician from his state to head the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, a post that the first and last person from his Ngwa Ethnic Nationality of Abia, Dr. Jaja Nwachukwu, vacated over 45 years ago. Today, Wogu takes the punches on behalf of the Nigerian government, as the one who mediates between Nigerian workers and the government on several burning national issues without looking back.

Deputy Superintendent of Police,Ngozi Conchita Braide assumed office nine months ago as the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer. She was the first female officer to occupy such position, having been in the Police Force for over 12 years.

Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, is a fearless man, who shoots straight on matters of national interest without looking back. For that reason, he has come to be admired, and loathed by Nigerians depending on where they stand. Since the controversy over President Goodluck Jonathan’s qualification to contest in 2015 broke out, Mohammed, a Russian-trained medical doctor-turned political commentator and analyst, has maintained his position that Jonathan is not qualified to run in the next election. In this interview, Mohammed also gives reasons why the newly-formed All Progressive Congress (APC) may make waves and why it may fail.