AFRICA Rising – That is the headline of last week’s cover of Time Magazine. It is for me an appropriate place to start my discussion on the theme “Governance, Security and Peace in Africa”; and if I might say so at the onset, it is a somewhat misleading if not patronizing headline.

THE crisis of underdevelopment of the Niger-Delta amidst a huge resource contribution came into razor-sharp focus, last week, in Warri, Delta State, where Professor of Comparative Politics and Public Policy, University of Benin, Professor Augustine Ikelegbe, declared that poverty, which is at the bottom of the grievances/ marginality of the youth/citizens of the region, has not been alleviated.

The North may be having a bad run; for now, that is. What goes around comes around. Whether its fortunes would migrate sooner than later to a better platform can only remain in the realm of conjecture. The prognosis to this may be stark for some and shrouded for others. One thing that is clear is that the North is having a bad run and its leaders, interestingly, know this; but there are still a few who are unwilling to admit.

As early as 7am last Sunday, the rough and dusty road of Kabba became very busy with vehicles from all walks of life particularly from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital plying the route through Okoro Gbede, Aiyetoro Gbede, among others.

The large presence of women in President Jonathan’s government cannot be attributed to moves to meeting the Beijing’s women declaration in China which sought 35% affirmative action in both elective and appointive positions.