Dr Danladi Sankara is the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP North West Zone. A politician of note, he is one that stands by the truth no matter whose ox is gored. In this interview, Dr Sankara expressed concerns over unguided activities of politicians on the 2011 presidential elections, warning that the trend was capable of derailing the nation’s democracy.

July 31 would be an acid test for the newly posted Resident Electoral Commissioner REC to Ondo State , Madam Ayoka Adebayo after her controversial experience in Ekiti Senatorial re run election which attracted condemnation across the country and beyond.

Mr. Affia, Mbuotidem Benson is the spokesperson South-South Solidarity Group. A former National President of the Union of Niger Delta Students and President of the National Union of South-South Students (NUSS) at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Mr Affia spoke to Vanguard on the need for President Jonathan to declare his presidential ambition now.Excerpts:

Education means the instruction of youths in certain rules of conduct by which they will be able to support themselves when they come to age and to know the obligations they are under to that society of which they constitute a part. Robert Coram, English-born American educationist 1761 – 1796.

As the new Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC chairman dusts his table for the task ahead alongside his new Resident Electoral Commissioners, veteran journalist and two time executive governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba has joined some of the progressives who do not share the optimism that the new INEC umpire is capable of conducting a free and fair election merely because some of the electoral commissioners cannot be trusted.

The Constitution review exercise embarked upon by the National Assembly has led it to a distorted view of the process prescribed by section 9 for altering its provisions.

It is a victory for our constitution because all the years, once we had issues with our constitution, what we did was to throw it away and do a new one, even when there are provisions for its amendment. So, we have taken full advantage of the provision of section 9 to successfully amend our constitution, something we have never done before.

Those who might have no ideas about the nature and character of opposition politics in Jigawa State and the agenda of its godfathers which some surrogate writers pretending to be Lamido praise-singers are now carrying out may not be in a position to appreciate this disapproval.

The harmonisation gave birth to an Anenih loyalist, the late Chief Samson Ekhabafe, from Akoko Edo local government, as chairman. Angered by what happened, Sado and his group went to court, but later withdrew the case. Orbih from Anenih’s camp was made the chairman, but the problem lingers against the backdrop that Elder Sunny Uyigue from Ogbemudia’s camp says he is the acting chairman.

We also know that another circumstances have arisen whereby President Yar’Adua who took over in 2007 died in office. That circumstance has brought President Jonathan to where he is today. And it is this new circumstance that necessitated the argument on whether Jonathan should continue or not.