THE Civil Service in Nigeria is a creation of the British colonial system with a fusion of Western administration and African traditional values. According to available records, it has passed through four distinct phases, namely the first phase (1914-1946); the second (1946-1966); the third (1966-1979) and the fourth (1979-date)

Gripping a machete he claimed was stained with blood, a 24-year-old civilian manned a checkpoint in one of Nigeria’s most dangerous cities, looking for members of a violent Islamist group.

TWO coloured birds sat complacently atop the Abia Tower this cloudy Sunday evening. They were chatting away happily, oblivious of the chaos of motorists below the height of about 100 meters.

THE ongoing political brouhaha in Rivers State is assuming a perilous dimension that should be halted before it snowballs into complete breakdown of law and order.

THE Senate last week voted on the report of its Constitution Review Committee and at the end of it all, it once again achieved a milestone in altering the 1999 Constitution to bring the document in line with the general aspirations of the Nigerian people.

THE Nigerian oil industry has continued to play a significant role in the nation’s drive towards economic growth and development.

WHEN we gained admission in 1985, we were among the youngest lads in the Mass Communications class of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. While I quickly reconciled myself with the daunting task of ‘flowing’ with men, a few of whom were more than twice my age as classmates, Douglas Akachukwu Ude, was determined to follow a different path.

In the past few weeks, groups that had hitherto stood on the fence or had distanced themselves altogether from President Goodluck Jonathan, who had declared that they would look elsewhere for another candidate in the presidential poll in 2015, have suddenly turned in a new verdict: Dr Jonathan will be the man to beat in 2015 if he decides to re-contest! They are even asking those not in their new camp to join them.

The drumbeats of the 2015 presidential elections are very clear and even deafening on the side of the amalgamated but yet unregistered opposition party. However the Peoples Democratic Party is treading, cautiously, as a result of the President’s ban on political campaigns ahead of the next general elections.

THE recent twist in Nigerian politics leading to agitations for presidency based on ethnic and zonal cleavages, has led some to the conclusion that no leader can emerge that will unite Nigeria.

FOR as long as I can remember, delusion, self-interest and greed have motivated not only the Nigerian government but the Nigerian people who often respond to the calculating, preying actions of their leaders not with outrage, but with the cunning of those who will profit by supporting what we all know to be wrong.

THE contemporaneity of metempirical and empirical evidences, unravels the truism that our world is swirling in the cesspit and epicenter of apocalyptical immorality, depravity and sacrilegious profanity. Nothing, yes nothing, is sacred anymore.

The picture of the politics and intrigues in the PDP is, however, bigger than it appears. In fact, the main concern should be whether the PDP can sustain its relevance and influence in 2015 if it continues on the path of destroying every component of democratic principles – freedom of choice inclusive.

I AM not sick, I am old,” remarked Madiba in Joahannesburg late January in year 2011. That was after his admission in a Johannesburg hospital for some “specialised tests” . Undoubtedly the former South African President had faced a number of health challenges in recent times, notably “respiratory infections”.

THE sweeping reform in the aviation sector is indeed changing the perception of the people about government. In a conversation I had with a group of people travelling through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last week, I can say that the Aviation Ministry has become a signpost for measuring the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.