And although Moshood was his twenty-third child, he was the first to survive, the first twenty-two dying either at birth or before attaining the age of one; hence the name Kashimawo, indicating the uncertainty that was felt even about his own survival

NEWS came, yesterday, that one of Nigeria’s leading political lights and elder statesmen, Dr. Adamu Ciroma, CFR, has passed on. The late political icon was arguably the main advocate of the zoning principle in Nigerian politics. He was also associated with the much touted and controversial quest for the Sovereign National Conference, SNC, which was promoted by some Nigerian politicians to ensure equitable distribution of national resources across the geopolitical zones of the country.

There is no way
we will take responsibility because our association is a non-violent, non-political association established to cater for the welfare of herdsmen in the country

ACCORDING to Prof. Udo Jacob:  “Sadly, it is only when stories like these   emerge that we tend to take notice of the problem with our educational system. But who cares? Children of the elite are at some of the best private primary and secondary schools despite the ridiculously high costs. Who sends his/her children to public primary and secondary schools these days? It is the poorest of the poor.”

JUST when residents of Bauchi State were anxiously awaiting the rainy season to enjoy the blessings that it brings, the rain came in a storm that jolted them into panic and tears as it left death in its wake with  property worth millions of naira destroyed.

A spate of kidnappings for ransom in the Birnin Gwari district of northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state has left residents afraid to even leave their homes.

The Federal Government has assured that it will complete the ongoing N34 billion Obehia-Akwete Azumini-Ukanafun highway dualization projects in Abia and Akwa States.

ANYTHING that will be good and enduring will have challenges. And in those three focal areas that the government has set for itself, a lot has been achieved despite the challenges.

Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, is well known in the legal community both home and abroad. In this interview he speaks on happenings in the judiciary in the last few years and notes that unless there is thorough application of the words and letters of the constitution, nothing will move up in the judicial system in the country.
Excerpts:

ALHAJI Lai Mohammed is the Minister of Information and Culture. In this interview, he presents the President Muhammadu Buhari achievements three years into its administration, saying the government is proud of its scorecard.

The whole purpose of democratic rule is to empower the people. This democracy that we have today has not empowered our people. In fact, it has impoverished them. With the possible exception of a certain category of politicians and their fronts, most Nigerians cannot claim to be better off than they were in 1999.

I congratulate every Nigerian on the occasion of yet another “Democracy” day, a day set aside to celebrate the return to civil rule after decades under military rule. As is customary, there will be parades across all the states and at the Federal Capital Territory to mark this special day, speeches upon speeches will be made and much effort will also be made to analyse and celebrate the ‘gains’ made since the return to democratic rule.

Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates, Ayo Teriba, in this interview, argues that Nigeria could have avoided the economic recession, devaluation and inflation that accompanied the loss in foreign exchange revenue due to decline in crude oil price between 2014 and 2016, if government had taken the right step namely to build external reserves buffer that will protect the nation from the vagaries of the crude oil market.

Tragedy struck in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, when a corps member, identified as Ibukun Arowolo, allegedly slumped and died, barely five days to completion of his one year service.

In this interview, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company and one of the nation’s leading economic analysts, speaks on the state of Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the major challenges inhibiting growth, while recommending elimination of policy rigidities and injection of booster shots to achieve optimal economic growth.