In view of the incessant building collapse in the country the theme of this year’s congress, “Standardisation and Innovative Technologies in Nigeria’s construction industry” could not have come at a more opportune time than now. As we are gathered here, the National Emergency Management Agency    and    the Rivers state government are involved in the evacuation of    not less than a hundred people who are said to be trapped in the rumbles of a collapsed 7-storey building in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, played host to over 100 of Yoruba traditional rulers during a three-day summit tagged: ‘Regaining the lost glory of traditional rulers of Yoruba land.’

For decades, despite laws against child marriage, the practice remains widespread in Nigeria. According to the 2017 States of the Children’s Health, globally, one in every five girls is married before her 18th birthday.  

For John Ayuba, Nathan Ibrahim and Marcus Ali, all inmates of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhogua in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, life has somewhat been good to them. For years, the trios, from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, were constantly moving from one place to the other in search of safety and a suitable place to further their studies.

It delivers both worry and wonder each time our nation-state hoists its flag for the wrong reasons; reasons anchored on the wings of any report that does disservice to the name of Nigeria.   Even so, such reports, when they filter into public domain, leave a patriot with a sore sense of shame. 

Kaduna, Stakeholders in Kaduna State have attributed the protracted crisis in the state to failure of governance, injustice and growing culture of hate among the people.

My dear compatriots, let me start by saying that contesting in the primaries for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) was an experience of a lifetime for me and I must add this: I am grateful to Almighty God for making me a Nigerian!

Does a child truly have rights in Nigeria? How useful is the Child Rights Act passed since 2003 and the Universal Basic Education, UBEC, Act enacted in 2004?

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced recently that altogether 10,000 Nigerians had been repatriated from Libya so far since April 2017 under the EU-IOM joint Initiative on Migrant Protection and Reintegration,

I must begin by saying that the theme for  this year’s anniversary-Dynamic Labour Leadership-Fuelling the economy is timely and insightful.

However, I became close to Pengassan and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) when we jointly waged the battle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. I can say, without any fear or contradiction, that both unions gave impetus to the titanic struggle against one of the most corrupt military regimes  that ruled any country in Africa.

When those in office regard the power vested in them as personal prerogative, they inevitably enrich themselves, promote their families, favour their friends. The fundamental structures of the modern state are eroded like the supporting beams of a house after termites have attacked them.

IN the lead up to the 1964 British general election, former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who became leader of the Labour Party after the sudden death of Hugh Gaitskell in 1963, coined the famous phrase, “A week is a long time in politics.”

While the proponents suggested that the Third Term Agenda would only allow another four years for the president, Uche Chukwumerije, a vocal opponent of the proposal representing Abia North in the South East, argued that “it means that Mr President will rule for the next 12 years and the presidency will remain in one zone for 20 years. Fullstop!” Senator Muktar Aruwa called it tenure “perpetuation”.

I read Millers poem on Perseverance when I was compiling the book of quotations in August 1967 according to my notes at the time. It was a difficult time for me and I came close to giving up on life. Providentially, this poem came up in a book and courage returned. It is the perfect opening for this piece on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. His emergence as the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party actually started in 2006 at a breakfast meeting with leading columnists of the day in his residence at Ikoyi. Lagos. Some have passed on; many more are in voluntary or involuntary retirement. To the best of my knowledge, only few of us remain in active “service” since that meeting.

The import and background to this  debate was not lost on the senators. No elected civilian administration had, at the time, successfully handed over to another. Elections were due to hold in less than nine months, in the first quarter of 2007, to determine who would succeed President Obasanjo. Preceding the debate, the president had reorganised the ruling PDP in what many considered a martial fashion.