Koriko Hotel (not real name), Awka, Anambra State, was a beehive of activities penultimate Friday. Members of the Anambra State Election Monitoring Team, put together by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had just concluded their meeting with another monitoring team from the European Union as well as other recognized bodies of observers.

While President Umaru Yar’Adua is yet to obey section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, it became clear in the heat of the crisis that only two institutions could pave way for the Vice President to take control of the reigns of power
These are the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly.

The Senate eventually ruled out proposals on sending a team to Saudi Arabia in favour of an invitation to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to brief the Senate on the matter.

THE first responses that the manner of the acting presidency the National Assembly thrust on Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was legally flawed were right. The explanation that it was based on the doctrine of necessity has introduced another plank for constitutional abuses, especially in the hands of politicians for whom individual survival comes at the expense of everyone, and everything.

President Umaru Yar’Adua was the pillar and architect of the amnesty programme. He is generally seen as the very first Nigerian leader to show genuine commitment to the cause of not just the Niger Delta region but that of the down trodden of the area.

So, would Peter Obi break this jinx? Although his incumbency status is a plus which makes him one of the top formidable candidates in the race , it is left to be seen whether the personality of Biafran warlord , Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu who stood up to be counted in Obi’s campaign team will make a difference.

Why FGM is unnecessary
We are challenging the so-called traditional rulers and elders to examine FGM. And if they think it to be what will make their women not be promiscuous and their wives to be faithful, what about the counterpart- you as a man? How does it stabilize you as a wonderful husband? Your wife is not promiscuous, what about you? How does she think of you, and how happy is she about you?

The seeming stasis of the Nigerian state, occasioned by the lingering vacuum in the presidency continues to magnify the spectre of gloom for an already troubled polity.Yet, there are those whose optimism presents a comic relief to the whole drama of a president in absentia.

Which made people fear that he will not work for the PDP that was one of the reasons why the PDP candidate, Chris Umogbai, was defeated by the AC candidate, Johnson Ugheoke. The duo are from Fugar, and as a matter of fact, it was a battle of two cousins. After the Akoko Edo constituency 1, House of Assembly re-run election, where Oshiomhole started having the upper hand against Anenih, After the Akoko Edo Election the PDP accused the AC of using thugs to rig the election.

A chilly Sunday morning with bright sunshine in Jos the Plateau State capital was something to relish as the allure of getting up to warm up in the sun increases.

If the plan of those behind the frequent violence in Jos is to rubbish its ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’ tag, then they are succeeding a great deal” said a resident in frustration as he ran for dear life to avoid getting caught in the latest mayhem in the Plateau State capital. It was the second orgy of violence in a little over one year and the third in nine years leaving in its trail pain, anger and helplessness.

If the plan of those behind the frequent violence in Jos is to rubbish its ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’ tag, then they are succeeding a great deal” said a resident in frustration as he ran for dear life to avoid getting caught in the latest mayhem in the Plateau State capital. It was the second orgy of violence in a little over one year and the third in nine years leaving in its trail pain, anger and helplessness.

Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South AT the moment, the Northwest geopolitical zone is the ruling power bloc in the country with bedridden President Umaru Yar’Adua, his wife Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua and members of his kitchen cabinet, principally from Katsina state as the power brokers.

“Umaru, are you dead? They say you are dead”. Obasanjo had put a call through to Yar’Adua at a campaign ground. This drama was staged on live television to refute rumours almost three years ago, that Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, then presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had died in the German hospital where he sought medical succour.

Nobody buys drinks for them. No man asks for a dance. Their clients are mainly young men of their age, or slightly older-20s-30s. They are casually dressed, in jeans, T-shirts and shirts flown out of their trousers. They sit, drinking their beers without female companies while the women stand away and look on.