Our founding fathers did not negotiate that at 51, Nigeria would become the 14th failed state in the world. Neither did they agree that it would be among the nations with the least human development index, nor that it would still be crawling five decades after independence. Our founding fathers did not dream that their great grand children would be treated with contempt as a result of mismanagement of its abundant resources.

The former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), laments that 51 years after independence, Nigeria is yet to be a nation, citing sectional and selfish interest as major drawback. Akinjide,, in this no-holds-bared interview blames the northern leaders on the Boko Haram insurgency, among other issues.

AS Nigeria marks its 51st independence anniversary today, there have been various reactions from people, especially eminent Nigerians calling for peace and tranquility.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on August 5 inaugurated a council to look into public companies acquired but mismanaged by private investors.

Nigeria was ranked “the third fastest growing economy in the world after China and India by the (IMF) in 2009.” It further projects a growth of 9% in 2008 and 8.3% in 2009. The IMF further projects a 8% growth in the Nigerian economy in 2011.

Geography, Power, and Politics in Nigeria NIGERIA is a state of wide cultural diversity consisting of several distinct ethnic groups. What role do these ethnic ethnic groups play in Nigerian politics and what impact do they have on political developments in Nigeria? The issue involved here is whether or not the Nigerian federation is being hobbled by the centrifugal tendencies and activities of these ethnic groups.

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Ministry, FCT, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, presented this paper entitled ‘Perspectives on the cost of governance in a democracy’ at the biennial conference of the Nigeria Guild of Editors in Benin City last week.

It is exactly 141 days since Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, launched its bid to get the April 16 general election that brought President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into power, nullified.

It was a whimsical dismissal of the invitation! The leadership of Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, had sent words to Governor Magartakda Wamako of Sokoto State to appear before it. The governor, seeking counsel from well-informed stakeholders in the anti-corruption war in the country, was advised to ignore the invitation. The governor acted in like manner based on the counsel.Nothing has happened! And, nothing may happen! The information at the disposal of Sunday Vanguard is as unbelievable as it is ridiculous. But the pieces of information are true, very true.

It was a desperate move! Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, former President and Commander-in-Chief, knows an opportunity when he sees one. Just smarting from the well-rounded criticism that greeted his misplaced enthusiasm on the issue of zoning, a matter which saw his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, kissing the dust of disapproval brought about by members of the House of Representatives, Obasanjo, indeed, sat back to re-assess the basis of his sense of statesmanship and importance. This, especially at a time when he appeared to be burning bridges of national relevance in a nation of competing interests.

Following the unending blood-letting in Plateau State which heightened in the last two weeks resulting in the killings of women, children and men, climaxed by last Sunday evening’s twin blasts at the junction to West of Mines, President Goodluck Jonathan had directed Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, to take charge of security in the state.

August 28, 2011 is a date that will hardly be forgotten by Elder Tes Sorae, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state. Elder Sorae who also is the chairman of Tomline Engineering Company, went to church in company of his first wife, Bridget, two female house helps, a driver and two police orderlies.

For many years now, there have increasing cases of Nigerians’ illegal migration to Europe via the desert as victims of human trafficking and sex slavery.

As America rekindles the spirit of Americanism and the resurrection of a spirit that was almost killed 10 years ago today, Nigeria’s version of such which is the Jos crisis rekindles nothing but nightmare.

This is a story of the global onslaught against terrorist activities in the last 10 years. It is the story of how the United States of America and Nigeria are contending with the deadly acts of terrorists. Are these two countries succeeding? What lessons can be learnt from the American approach, as today marks the 10th anniversary of the bringing down of the Twin Towers, the World Trade Centre buildings in New York City.