These are political times, but more than political times, these are electioneering times. During elections, politicians, desperate for votes, induce or bribe the electorate with all manner of things, including money. These are also Ghana-Must-Go times. But the season is also a season of mischief.

PRESIDENTIAL candidates are in the habit of promising heaven and earth. We must resist the temptation of choosing the candidates based on the list of promises they make. Rather, a more realistic approach in choosing presidential candidates is to look at the underlying attitudes or qualities which they have because it is these qualities that will determine how they will comport themselves while in office.

IN a recent discussion, a concerned Nigerian harped on the results of the concluded National Assembly (NASS) elections, expressing confidence in the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and stating that Nigeria can restore her values and preserve her unity if the voting pattern is sustained.

NEITHER in the NN24 debate attended by the three closest challengers to President Goodluck Jonathan in Saturday’s presidential elections, nor in the other debate attended solely by President Jonathan, was a serious issue with perhaps far greater capacity to affect the fortunes of the economy and hence the citizen’s well-being, ever raised. That lacuna was curiously instructive. It is all the more intriguing that in the flood of advertisements by which the candidates have solicited for votes, there has been no copy that has called attention to this serious issue either.

MALAM Nuhu Ribadu is one of the interesting personalities that this present political dispensation has revealed. He is presently the presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria which is the second largest party in Nigeria. The ACN controls four states via judicial activism and a large chunk of the membership of the National and state assemblies. It also controls a fair share of the local governments in the country.

AMONG the cartel, Dangote Cement Plc has been and remains the biggest importer of bulk cement into Nigeria, thanks to the Federal Government yearly allocation that favours Dangote with a quota of 6.5 million – 9 million MT per annum, against 3.2 million MT per annum shared out among the rest of the other four companies, Dangote Cement, comprising Benue Cement purchased from the Bureau of Public Enterprises in 2001 and still struggling to meet production level and Obajana new cement plant commissioned by President Obasanjo with a claimed capacity of five million MT per annum which in reality is producing about 1,500,000 MT per annum.

IN a true democratic society, it is essential to ensure a government that follows the will of the people and not the one that force the people to follow it, that is, a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” as said by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address which lasted a little over two minutes on November, 19, 1863.

CHINA dominates global cement consumption at 1,105kg per capita, representing about 50 per cent of global cement consumption.

WHEN the people of Delta North go out to vote on April 9,2011 in the shifted National Assembly election, the image and stature of Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Prince Nwoko of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) stand head and shoulder above the other contenders and pretenders in the race for Delta North Senatorial seat.

THE Federal Government on recently convened a ‘Stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to address the soaring price of cement in the country.

THIS piece is a genuine and well-intended effort at acknowledging the truth of the political position in Abia State, since Governor T.A. Orji wisely and intelligently cashed in on the applauded wisdom of embracing the centripetal government.

WE have been saying the same thing over and over for the last 40 years, but they will not listen. Hence, we must repeat ourselves and sound the same refrain: Good economics leads to good politics and conversely bad economics leads to bad politics.

IT has become a common phenomenon and in fact worrisome, the ever increasing negative and retrogressive consequences of anti-social behavoiur in the society.

ONE spot where the April polls in Nigeria will generate so much interest and concern, both locally and internationally is Abia State, proudly styled “God’s Own State”.

UNDERSTANDABLY, there have been outpourings of commendations and felicitations from different quarters of Ogun State and beyond in the run up to the 55th birthday anniversary of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. And this Wednesday which is the D-day the goodwill will reach its crescendo for the helmsman of Ogun State. For a man who has spent the last eight years charting the way forward for the Gateway State this is to be expected.