The Arewa Elders Assembly seems to be the latest name among the plethora of organizations that claim to be speaking for the hapless, beleaguered people of the North of the country. But, if the Arewa Elders Assembly sounds strange and perhaps, dismissed as just any one of those frivolous, opportunistic and self-seeking ethno-cultural, regionalist and religious interest groups, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, Dan-Masanin Daura, is neither an unknown entity nor can he be dismissed as insignificant.

IT is almost stale news that the Federal Government has budgeted a whopping N10 billion for the celebration of Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary come October 1, 2010. Some Nigerians feel there is every reason and need for us to throw a lavish party to mark this event. They argue that “it is a big achievement for Nigeria to clock 50 years as a politically independent nation”.

WAS Nwosu aware that security reports had confirmed that some big politicians from the state, precisely from Ngwa axis, are allegedly behind the plot to discredit Orji’s administration ahead of next year’s election.

There is greater mobilization of conflicting interests in the polity; and the politics of zoning has added another dimension of desperation. Besides, the usual litigants are tired of the electoral adjudicatory process and are ready to improve the Kano, Bauch and Ekiti strategy. If President Jonathan becomes a candidate, then he can only win on ideas and platforms. He will win because he ran a campaign more credible than the rest.

IT is a time-honoured dictum that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Any normal human being – normal being euphemistic in this sense – becomes, as it were, swollen-headed when invested with the power to manipulate people and things generally.

If I should receive my proper pension payments, as directed by the Federal Government, it will go a long way to making us, who built the NPA from its cradle to the octopus it has become today, more physically and mentally prepared to see the point in celebrating independence with the rest of the populace.

We therefore salute the Courts for carrying out their Constitutional responsibilities without fear or favour; the members of the People’s Democratic Party, and the general public for their support and encouraging patience.

He went highly recommended and he did not disappoint. The weekly edition of the South Country Post bashed in announcing his upcoming address on “A Vision for Modern Nigeria” at the JW Marriot in Union Square, San Francisco on April 6, 2010, proclaimed him a “progressive and foresighted” Nigerian Governor.

IN a recent contribution, I called for voices like those of advocate Mike Igini and others from Delta State to take up the gauntlet of representing the diminishing voice of Delta State in the nationallegislature in the imminent elections for 2011.

IT is very easy as a pundit in Nigeria, nay Africa, to get carried away with the ceremonies of self-worth, and be largely overwhelmed by the need to preen, sometimes put on angst for the consumption of those hungry for choice morsels to assuage genuine anger.

FIRST, the site was the old Effurun Motor Park. It was very popular serving travellers from Warri, Agbarho, Ughelli, Ozoro, Oleh, Lagos, Ibadan and a few from the North and the South East. But unfortunately, it became subsumed by its own popularity as its handlers in the name of agboro rivalry made it a theatre of constant war of attrition.

On the converse, Dr. Fayemi and the Action Congress could do well to focus their attention on the 2011 House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senatorial Elections. By their own action the governorship elections which would have held next year 2010 would now have to wait till 2013! This would give Governor Segun Oni more time to carry out more programmes that would endear him to the people of the state and make his unseating in a future election more difficult. In the final analysis these unending law suits would serve no useful purpose other than become perhaps the sword of Damocles

I QUESTION whether the necessary psychological conditions exist for us to address Nigeria’s problems or to implement the necessary solutions to them. This skepticism stems from the relative ease with which those in power restore the status quo after Nigerians have appeared to have awakened to the need for change.

THE philosophy of life that makes for winner takes all is not only antithetical to development; it is also not in favour of human progress. An intellectual inquiry into the stages of social and economic development in the Marxian interpretations and chronicles of social epochs shows that winner takes all conforms to the values operated in the primitive, slave and feudal social epochs which legacies were the oppressions, suppressions and economic deprivations of the human race.

WHOSE report shall we believe? This was a profound question asked by Sunday Oguntola, a journalist, in his article published in The Nation newspapers recently.