Senator Lekan Balogun is a great politician . Beyond that, he is Osi-Olubadan, an Ibadan traditional stool that entitles him to become the Olubadan of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. In this piece, Balogun tells the story of his life as a private person and politician.

I was involved in the three stages in the election process that produced what we call today ‘June 12’ Those of us who worked on the three stages never, never planned for its cancellation or annulment. For the reader, the three stages of an election process according to the standard text in election planning are the pre election day activities, the election day activities and the post-election day activities. In 1993, we passed the first and the second and the problem arose as we approached the third stage.

…Options before Mr. President, PDP and opposition parties
This is a build up to President Goodluck Jonathan’s first year in office as an elected leader. But there appears to be a stasis in the affairs of the nation, occasionally shattered by the bombing raids of insurgents. Yet, the political class is enmeshed in a controversy about succession come 2015. Worse, the body language still Mr. President and his minders suggests that it could be a go for him.

The gun-totting bandit was just some four metres from the big man. Pointing his gun at him, he barked, “bring out your money everybody” – he was actually talking to other car owners and passengers who had been abruptly forced to a screeching halt. There was pandemonium.

There is no gainsaying that the state of infrastructure in the country is nothing to write home about. From hospitals to airports, most of the nation’s critical infrastructure are begging for urgent attention and possible rehabilitation.