Although, God, in the union of man and woman, admonished that no man (read nobody, force or power), should put asunder what He has joined; the unending flood ravaging the country appears not to be obeying the binding biblical injunction, as it has put asunder the South-South geo-political zone.

General Olusegun Obasanjo has often seen his role in Nigeria’s political and military history from a messianic point of view. As the War Commander who received the instrument of surrender, Gen. Obasanjo’s role in the concession of Bakassi is symbolic.

As the controversy created by Chinua Achebe’s new book, “THERE WAS A COUNTRY”, rages, social critic and poet, Odia Ofeimun – who has been thrown in the eye of the storm because of his first reaction which sought to exonerate Pa Obafemi Awolowo, who served as Vice Chairman to the ruling body of the Nigerian government and whom Achebe accused of war crimes because of the Nigerian government’s war-time policy which allegedly led to the starving of Igbos – presents in this piece never-before-revealed perspectives.

Responding to clamours for financial assistance in the wake of the flood disaster nationwide as governors of affected states sought ‘’federal might’’ to bail them out from the deluge, President Goodluck Jonathan promptly came to the rescue.

…’I saw people hanging on trees to survive’
MANAGING the ravaging flood in Delta State has been a complicated affair for both the victims and the state
government. In some camps established for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state, 18 at the time of this report, facilities have been over-stretched.

Nigeria became the first country in history to cede its territory and willingly agreed to displace its own citizens, in their home land in peace time, to honour its war time obligations and in the spirit of African brotherhood.

The prices are increasing on a daily basis because of the flood. For instance, we use to buy a bag of white garri at the rate of N3,000 before the flood. But now, the price has gone up to N6,000 . Likewise beans.

Although Nigerians have been assured that the country will not be plunged into food crisis. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, made this declaration.

With resilient spirit,Nigeria can escape the looming food scarcity, this is the contention of Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture.

There are fears among many people that the country is most likely to witness food shortage soon after the crippling floods which destroyed several farmlands and submerged many communities across the country.

The aftermath of the ravaging flood witnessed in most parts of the country is gradually taking its toll on Nigerians as price of staple food continue to rise in each pasting day.
A Lagos based farmer, Jude Ogwu said Nigeria has no choice but to rely more on neighbouring countries and developed nations for our survival till the flood water which had washed away many farmland dries up.

ADDITIONALLY, the people suffer oil spills which are usually not cleaned and gas flaring which further depletes the ozone layer. In the oil producing areas, many farmlands are destroyed by oil exploitation; the waters are polluted thereby destroying fishing which is a major preoccupation of the people.

Lakemfa contributed this piece to the International Roundtable on Energy Emergency and Energy Transition organised by the Cornell Global Labour Institute, Cornell University, and the Rosa Luxemberg Foundation, New York. October 10 – 12, 2012

Vanguard spoke to one of the elders of Gelegele, Chief Kokoroko , whois an enigma and claims to be many things aside from being a chief and a Nigeria Police personnel.

SECONDLY, I would like to see a decent hospital or a full fledged operating and well equipped health centre. What we have now that is called a clinic within the community cannot even match what the average Red Cross unit can offer in terms of services.