The role of the press in deepening this democracy?
The power of the media in shaping society, setting agenda for public discourse and moulding public opinion is long-standing and legendary. That, I guess, was why the third President of the United States and principal author of its Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), once said: “The press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man, and improving him as a rational, moral and social being.”

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, 83-year-old chieftain of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, is not in high spirits talking about Nigeria at 51.

The first impression you get from Group Captain Salaudeen Latinwo, former military governor of Kwara State, is of a capable individual. At home, he works physically side by side with his domestic staff- answering the door, serving guests and even working the generator.

AGAINST the backdrop of plans by the Boko Haram sect to hit some government’s targets (National Assets) on or before today (October 1, 2011), military authorities in Abuja who got cracking following the groups’ threat to dent the nation’s 51st anniversary celebrations, have arrested about 950 suspects made up mostly of foreign national from Niger, Chad and Sudan.

IT all started like a joke a few days to the celebrations of Nigeria ’s 50th independence and golden jubilee in 2010. MEND, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta had issued a warning online, that they would detonate bombs in pursuance of their agitation and the security people said they took the matter serious but concentrated their checks only on a 1, 000 meters radius in and around the Eagle Square.

Samson Osagie is the Minority Whip in the House of Representatives. In this interview with GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE in Benin, he describes the call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the resignation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tambuwal from his position as the ranting of an ant.

Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Spain, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman in this interview, talks about the Boko Haram controversy, blaming it on extra judicial killings by the police. He opines also that if policemen were not careless in spraying innocent citizens who were not carrying any weapons with bullets, as shown on Al Jazeera TV, the problem would not have got out of control.

AS Nigeria marks 51 years of independence and the National Assembly begins another round of constitution amendment, President of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Evangelist Elliot Uko, has called for restructuring of the polity into a true federal state to address the myriad of socio-economic, political and development problems plaguing the country, saying government must begin the urgent processes to rebuild the country after 51 years of missed opportunities.

Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa was former governor of Sokoto state and two time-presidential aspirant. In this interview, he maintains that for Nigeria to develop, all hands must be on deck and that Nigerians need to support the government to move the country forward.

THE on-going strike by the organized labour in Anambra State has taken another dimension with the state government and labour leaders trading allegations that had helped to deepen the animosity between government and workers. On Monday, Gov Peter Obi assembled who is who in Anambra at the famous Women Development Centre , Awka and made a frightening speech that sent jitters down the spine of many workers.