Dr Ese Owie, an Oxford University trained lawyer,is the Chairman , Edo State Board of Internal Revenue. He is one of the young technocrats in the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. Until his appointment the state could not boast of more than N300million per month as internally generated revenue. That figure has now risen to N1.2 billion, a development he credits to the support of the governor. He is even confident that at the rate the board is moving the state should be financially strong by 2012.

Farouk Lawan, a ranking member of the House of Representatives and chairman, House Committee on Education, says, contrary to insinuation, the House leadership is not threatened. According to him, nobody has brought any notice of impeachment against the leadership to the floor of the House. He also announces his entry into the 2011 Kano governorship race, saying lack of purposeful leadership in the state, among other reasons, is why he is contesting the election.

The NCNC Political Training School was set up at Yaba in Lagos and apart from our youths who were trained in the school, Zik extended his hand of fellowship to contemporaries like Kaunda, Nyerere, and Banda to send their youths for training. Many of the youths who passed through this school at Yaba were to become Ministers and Leaders in various fields in their countries. I remember such names as Tom Mboya, Odinga Oginga and Sam Nujoma who later became the President of South West Africa.

We should play down sentiments that we know can provoke crisis. IBB is not going to join issues with those Bishops but we pray that those Bishops will search their conscience and see whether they are saying the truth…..in this context we are not talking about who is a sinner and who is not but I want you to tell me one Nigerian who is a purist and you will have my respect for life.

We are in partnership with some religious organisations and some tertiary institutions. Our logic is that the older generation who have procreated more than their domestic resources, cannot be changed anymore. But incoming youths or the younger generation should be made to realise the deep implication of their action to themselves and to the entire society.