Self-styled former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, rtd, is determined to contest the 2011 presidential polls. And unlike what happened in 2007 when he threw in the towel, at the last minute, he is ready to go the whole hog this time, his supporters have said.

We expect the North to be the first people to always stand up and endorse any of our demand but to our pain, it is the North that will always kick against anything that we demand for in Nigeria. That type of betrayal is worse than Judas Iscariot’s betrayal. That was why our leaders led by Chief E.K. Clark walked out of the Obasanjo government organised political conference. Our leaders were so bitter that the North is against every demand from our region. And they walkout, it was the greatest thing ever done by our leaders and now we want the North to repent.

Any time an election is drawing closer, there are bound to be people who have interests presenting their interests in various ways. Yes, the so called schism is there in the PDP but I believe it is a presentation of interests of people inside PDP who presently are not in governance, who are not in elective or

appointive offices but want to get into offices.

REVEREND Chris Okotie has contested for the highest office in Nigeria twice on the platform of the Fresh Democratic Party, FDP, first in 2003 and then 2007 and is currently oiling his political machine to hit the road again for the 2011 election. In this interview, he x-rayed the happenings in the political terrain, the debate over President Jonathan’s ambition, corruption, the return of Nuhu Ribadu and his verdict is that Nigerians can only vote in PDP in subsequent elections at their own peril. Excerpts:

The national chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, Engr Larry Esin, is unperturbed by the defection of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State from the PPA to the All Progressive Grand Alliance. He says the governor’s exit is a non-issue and will not in any way affect the fortunes of the party in the state.

This is not the best of times for the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, as a disagreement between the leadership and its only remaining governor climaxed with the defection of the governor.

CHIEF Rita Lori-Ogbegbor is a leader in the Niger Delta and also the Igba of Warri in Delta State. In this interview, she bares her mind on the state of the nation just as she laments the current trend of events in the country. She also comments on many other burning national issues.

SENATOR Uche Chukwumerije representing Abia North Senatorial District has dismissed the PPA as nothing but an extention of the business empire of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. Announcing his resignation from the party, Chukwumerije cited alleged lack of interest in the party.

I met them. I was ADC to Zik. The Sarduana, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Zik, had no problem. All the Okparas, Ibiams and others didn’t have any problem with each other. They were all wonderful people. So, looking back, there were no problems with the leaders. But Nigeria was in a kind of hurry. That was why the military came in, thinking they could do things faster and change things overtime. They believed they could change people by forcing them but you don’t do that.

I think it is unfortunate. But having said that, you know parliaments do engage in that kind of brawl. The Japanese parliament and parliaments of many other countries engage in it. It is not something to be concerned about. Definitely, it is nothing to be worried about. But I do think that the House of Representatives should find a better way of sorting out of their differences and I don’t think the best way to do it is to suspend the members who disagree with you. It is not democratic if you say a member accuses you of corruption, you should suspend him.