Senator Polycarp Nwite, senior special assistant to the president (political matters), is a chip from the old political block determined to instill some freshness into the political landscape. A member of the third republic Senate, Nwite would be remembered for his contributions to the pro-democracy struggle during the military era. Now a chieftain of the […]

AFTER several dithering the much expected winding processes of constitution amendment have started fully by the National Assembly. During Plenary Tuesday, the House of Representatives followed the Senate footstep; when it began its second reading of the bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution. On its part, the Senate had penultimate week gone through its second reading and subsequently referred the exercise to its committee. The Senate Committee is expected to commence sitting any moment from now.

He was charged along with Saro-Wiwa and the other eight Ogoni leaders who were hanged by the military junta headed by the late Gen. Sani Abacha in November 1995. Only Mitee among the whole lot was spared the hangman’s noose after the controversial verdict of the Justice Auta led Tribunal. Undaunted even after he survived the Abacha gulag, he forged ahead with the agitation of the Ogonis for environmental justice.

CHIEF David Attah was spokesman for the late maximum ruler, Gen Sani Abacha. He had before then been Group Personnel Manager of the Daily Times, General Manager of Standard, two-time commissioner in Benue State and Member, House of Representatives. In this interview, he argued that Nigerians cannot continue to blame Abacha for the nation’s woes, more than ten years after his death and warned that the nation is drifting. Excerpts:

Etubom Anthony Ani, former Minister of Finance during the regime of late General Sanni Abacha, is the founder of Peat, Marwick, Ani and Co, a firm of Chartered Accountants. In this interview, he spoke on the implication of exclusion of Cross River State from the list of oil producing states and how this may affect the relationship between the state and Akwa Ibom. Excerpts:

APART from the 2008 budget of Anambra State which polarized the state House of Assembly and led to its sharp division before the budget was finally passed after the intervention of the State Elders’ Forum, another issue that recently threatened the peaceful coexistence of the 30_member legislature is the controversial N250 million allegedly found with one of the aides of Governor Peter Obi.

DR. FESTUS IYAYI is a lecturer in the University of Benin.
He came into limelight when he was the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), where he joined others to confront the obnoxious policies of the Babangida administration. Since then, he has not looked back. A radical author and human rights activist, Iyayi in this interview with Vanguard described Nigeria as failed nation state. Excerpts:

fter about two weeks of orchestrated media campaign, Hon. Dino Melaye (PDP/Kogi) finally convinced many Nigerians that Hon. Tunde Akogun and Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (PDP/Imo) would be removed as principal officers of the House of Representatives last Tuesday. Akogun is the majority leader of the House while Ihedioha is chief whip Melaye had accused the two men of embezzling a good portion of N310 million voted for the “10 years of un-interrupted democracy in Nigeria” celebration and the last House retreat.

Senator Odion Ugbesia erstwhile Minister of Solid Minerals and political scion of the Anenih political clan has
maintained a dignified silence since his gubernatorial aspiration to the Edo Government House was derailed in
2007. By nearly all accounts erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo was largely responsible. Now settled in the
Senate, Ugbesia in his first major interview speaks on the frosty relationship he had with former Governor
Oserheimen Osunbor, the Senate’s plans for the review of the constitution and the state of affairs in the Edo
State chapter of the PDP. Excerpts:

And at about 21 years old, I joined the military and all the risks involved. I had some car accidents that nearly claimed my life but, I survived them.You can see that I’m lucky to be alive and that is why I have course to thank God and to get closer to Him because I’m not the one protecting my life and at the same time, it doesn’t mean I’m careless.