TRIBUTE
OUR hearts are broken by the passing of Dee (Uncle) Pini Jason, a legendary Nigerian journalist. We have lost a tireless advocate of social justice, whose role on the public stage will always be missed. I heard about the sad event on Saturday morning, May 4, 2013 from my elder brother, Emmanuel, who called from his Abuja base. Like most people, I was sent into a state of rude shock with many questions bothering my mind relative to the actual cause of his death.

Aware that they have failed to get a fully-fledged peacekeeping force up and running, African leaders now plan a rapid-deployment emergency force, but analysts question whether it can deliver.

IT is curious how a single word evokes diametrically opposite reactions from people. And yet this contrasting opposition, in more ways than one, spices piquantly people’s use of languages generally and the English language particularly.

READING the interview Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) gave to Daily Trust which was published on Wednesday the 22nd of May 2013, I am compelled to raise historical issues that put the former military Head of State’s words in perspective.

MY intention when I decided to write in defence of the Senate under the presidency of Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, was to be, as much as it is possible, frank and unapologetic of the positions that I would canvass in response to a piece, titled: “Mark’s House of Indolence” written by one Kikiowo Ileowo (I am not sure he ranks among the money men and women in Nigeria-a pun intended-going by his two names- and, I hope that is his real name and not some wacky pseudonym- which mean “plenty money” and “house of money”) and syndicated in no fewer than seven national newspapers and on-line publications.

A FEW months ago, news broke of a rather interesting development: A little-known Brazilian investment firm, 3G Capital was teaming up with legendary American investor, Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway to buy H.J. Heinz, the iconic ketchup make for $28 billion. The deal was dubbed as the largest acquisition in the global food industry.

AS the nation forges ahead in its strenuous struggle against Boko Haram insurgency with the imposition of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, one can confidently say that we are out of the state of seeming indecision that characterized the government’s response to the challenge of insecurity.

Some things just don’t add up when it comes to the Woolwich killings. There are certainly more questions than answers. Let us examine the facts. An off-duty British soldier by the name of Lee Rigby was walking down the street in the charming and peaceful London suburb of Woolwich. All of a sudden, and out of the blue, he was randomly selected and run over by a car which was being driven by two young black men. After they hit him to the ground with the car the two young men jumped out of it, armed with machetes, knives, a rusty old pistol and a meat cleaver, and in a deep and uncontrollable frenzy amidst shouts of ‘’Allahu Akbar’’, proceeded to take his precious life by carving him up, mutilating him, butchering him and beheading him in full public glare.

It was a calm Sunday morning in northwest London, having breakfast with Chief E.K. Clark (Daddy) and his beautiful and caring wife Dr. (Mrs.) Bisola Clark (Mommy) just a few weeks ago, and I’ve seldom had more fun while talking about so many matters that were unreservedly pleasant and unpleasant: Family, Politics, Boko Haram, and the need for a united Nigeria

FRANTZ FANON is reputed for his unassailable postulation that:“History will not forgive those men who have the exceptional privilege of speaking the words of truth, but have decided to take refuge in an attitude of captivity, mute indifference and sometime cold complicity”.

THE massacre this month of over 40 police officers and 10 Department of State Services, DSS, men by the Ombatse cult in Eggon area of Nasarawa State woke Nigeria to the reality of the danger of increased violence against our law enforcement agents, especially the Police.

WHAT is truly lacking in many parts of the country today and has continued to inhibit development is lack of access roads and adequate transportation system.

IN the couple of months following his death up to his burial today, the world has risen in unison to celebrate Chinua Achebe as a man universally acclaimed to be the father of modern African literature and as the man who used literature to bring Africa to the world.

There is a saying among Ndigbo that when a man plies his trade in the area of his destiny, it would appear as though he is riding on the crest of magic. Also, when an experienced Dibia (native doctor) performs a sacrificial rite, the speed of the results makes it appear as though he hand-fed the spirits. Both have been true in the life of the Presidential Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator (Dr.) Joy Emodi.

AH, Chinua, are you grapevine wired?
It sings: our nation is not dead, not clinically
Yet. Now this may come as a surprise to you,
It was to me.