It followed the infamous Iraqi pattern. Two blasts. That was all that was needed to turn Nigeria’s 50th independence celebrations into ashes in the mouth of millions of Nigerians.
That was also all that was also needed to send the wrong and condemnable signal to the outside world that things have gotten so bad in Nigeria.
Still, the number of heads of state, diplomats, important dignitaries and political leaders just a few hundred metres from the site of the bomb blasts, could have as well been mortal victims of the twin blasts.
In fact, the African Union, AU, through its chairperson, Peace and Security Council, Dr. Monica Juma, pilloried the act, saying that for it to have happened on the day of the independence celebrations “showed how bad” the situation had become. She continued: “While we condemn the act in its totality, the AU Peace and Security Council wants the Nigerian government to thoroughly investigate the act, arrest and prosecute those behind the bombings so that such unfortunate incident will not occur again in Nigeria and other parts of Africa”.

Professor Chinwe Nora Obaji, in a stirring speech, lamented that in spite of the contributions of the Igbo people and the fact that Igbo ingenuity and professionals are in high demand across the globe, Nigeria continues to sidestep the aspirations of one of the nation’s largest ethnic groups to serve at the highest level, forty years after the civil war ended

Again if I am asked who to believe between Osoba and Alhaji MD Yusuf, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi and Alhaji Gambo Jimeta who are all seasoned policemen that were involved either directly or indirectly with the investigation into Tafawa Balewa’s death,

IT can be rightly claimed that the media, especially the print, is the foremost founding father of this
nation, not the least because those who fought for Nigeria’s independence were either journalists or used the instrument of the press rather than armed struggle as other decolonising entities like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria Mozambique and Angola.

THE Nigerian economy can be aptly described as an interlocking set of vicious circles that perpetuate economic stagnation and rural poverty which various governments since 1960 have been struggling to break away from without success. One of these circles involves the savings – investment gap.

If there were to be a contest between all known deadly human disorders, malaria would qualify to compete in the heavyweight championship category because it possesses the appropriate credentials.

The story starts with President Goodluck Jonathan. His decision to contest the 2011 presidential elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was the catalyst. They waited patiently – leaders of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, that is. Once they were certain that President Jonathan was going to make his public declaration to contest, they swung into action.

NIGERIA’S 1999 Constitution (as amended) is alive. The Electoral Act 2010 takes its bearing from it. That notwithstanding some lawyers plead that the Constitution is inchoate in their prayers before the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

As President Jonathan took the about 40yard walk from the VIP Box, to the blaring sound of music rendered by DBanj,he attempted yahooze dance steps to the rhythm as provided.

As the self-professed largest party on the continent of Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is on the march again to another presidential contest. There are intrigues at play and each time the party sets about choosing a presidential candidate, there is always tension.