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.

WHAT does Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) really want? Whose interest is it championing at the moment?