THE emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the President and Commander-in-Chief after the political uncertainty created by the ill-health and unfortunate demise of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, seem to have restored hope in Nigeria’s ability to weather through its troubles.

OMRADE Chris Akomas, labour activist turned politician is the deputy governor of Abia State. He joined politics to continue the “struggle”. He says he is press shy. After several efforts, Sunday Vanguard was able to track him down to talk. In this rare chat with our Abia State Correspondent, Anayo Okoli, Akomas spoke about himself, why he is into politics, the office of deputy governor, the relationship between him and Governor Theodore Orji on the one side and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the party BOT chairman on the other side.

With the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan a year ago ordering a retrial of the case of the Action Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola and the further order that he should be allowed to tender from the bar, a document called “Final Police Report on April 14, 2007 Election in Osun State”, it was expected that the petitioner would briskly tender the document, call a few witnesses and close his case.

My own submitted answer is no. Because we need to totally overhaul and restructure Nigeria. Because if Nigeria is not restructured, nobody you put there, with all the technical supports all over the world, will perform. The presidency is a big monolith that has the life of its own. But he must seriously get down to the issue of Nigeria. And the only issue concerning Nigeria now is the structure of Nigeria. He cannot tackle development if he cannot tackle structure of Nigerria. They are tied together.

Why I am saying that Jonathan becoming President is a divine intervention. Yar’Adua’s death is a call of the Almighty, we cannot challenge God, since Yar’Adua and Jonathan were in a joint ticket to run for the Presidency in 2007 and won; and if Yar’Adua was to run in 2011, Jonathan would still have followed him and history is abound in American and United Kingdom of Presidents after completing two terms, it is the Vice President that takes over, God has settled the case in favour of Jonathan.

The do-or-die mentality is still here with us. That is why you see that law suits continue three or four years after elections were held. The fact is that our politicians need to apply a sportsmanly spirit. First of all the rules have to be fair and known to all such that when there is a political context, when you are beaten, you are beating fair and square.

WEDNESDAY, 13th May, 2010 will ever remain fresh when writers of history of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP settle down to put to book what will be in the archives of the party.

NOT used to screening or approving appointees of Government, the House of Representatives Tuesday enacted a curious drama that ended with a blunder while trying to approve the nomination of former governor of Kaduna State, Arc. Namadi Sambo as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The so-called “One North” slogan got under test again last week and badly wobbled when Kaduna Government House – a strong hold of the Muslim (Hausa/Fulani) north – became available for a Christian man from a minority tribe in Southern part of Kaduna to occupy.

Honourable Uche Anya, is chairman of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC. He is a former minority leader in Enugu State House of Assembly during the administration of former governor Chimaroke Nnamani. In this interview with Vanguard he spoke on PDP zoning arrangement, the choice of Vice President Sambo, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor’s resignation, constitution amendment’s and the activities of NTDC. Excerpts:

Governor Godswill Akpabio is the governor of Akwa Ibom State. In this interview he spoke on his government in the last three years, his achievements, his relationship with former governor Victor Attah whom he described as father to all, 2011 elections and PDP. Excerpts:

Alhaji Ali Wakili, is the immediate past Commandant of Nigerian Custom Training School, Kano. His entrant into partisan politics was welcomed by network of friends scattered across the country. He is a politician with positive thinking on how best to raise the lifestyle of an ordinary Nigerian.

Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation in the National Assembly and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State. Recently in Osogbo he spoke with newsmen on some national and state matters. Excerpts:

THE recent confirmation by the Anambra State House of Assembly and subsequent swearing- in of the chairman and members of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) by Governor Peter Obi on Monday, May 10, must gladden the hearts of many grass root politicians in the state who have waited since 2002 to be elected into the third–tier of government.

SENATOR Patrick Osakwe represents Delta North in the National Assembly. In this interview with Vanguard, he spoke on issues surrounding Jonathan’s presidency, his ambition to contest the 2011 elections. He said it is morally right for President Goodluck Jonathan to complete the tenure he and late President Yar’Adua started. Excerpts: