The US Patriot Act was revised after the 911 Terrorist attackes in the United States of America. The revisions empowered US intelligence services and Law Enforcement entities to combat terrorism both at home and abroad as part of the Global War on Terrorism instituted by the United States under the Bush Administration.

THESE are uncomfortable times for President Goodluck Jonathan. Recently the terrorist group Boko Haram resurfaced in the vicinity of Abuja, detonating two deadly bombs in Nyanya while also abducting an unclear number of girls from Chibok in Borno State.

A POLITICIAN’S qualities are his attributes that are natural, while some of the qualities are as a result of external influences.

EYEBROWS were raised few days ago when there was an official announcement that schools, offices and governmental parastatals would be shut down so that Nigeria can host a peaceful World Economic Forum,WEF. This generated contrasting reactions from pundits. Why ‘shut down’ an entire nation’s capital just to accommodate about 1000 delegates from70 or so countries.

On his 52nd birthday today, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu will be celebrated by his colleagues in the Senate. He will be celebrated by his party-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He will also be celebrated by his friends in and outside government. The celebratory tributes will sum up the man’s quintessence and the praxis of his loyalty since he stepped in the saddle as Deputy Senate President on June 5, 2007.

It is said that a prophet is with honour except in his own home. This axiom was put to question recently at Yola, Adamawa State when the erstwhile National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was hosted to a civic reception by the Adamawa State chapter of the PDP.

If former Secretary to the State Government, Obarisi (Barr.) Ovie Omo-Agege decides to seek the governorship of Delta State in 2015, there will be little political oxygen left for anyone else. I have taken so many factors into consideration to arrive at the conclusion that Omo-Agege, who came second to the two-term incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in the PDP primaries in 2007, will become the Delta PDP best-selling candidate, the ultimate game changer as soon as he joins the race.

IT is 53 years since independence and Nigeria as a country is still travelling on reverse gear because the country has refused to look back. Philosophers are right when they say that looking back also means looking forward.

IN the last few weeks, the issue of the abduction of nearly 200 students of a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State has been largely politicised. Rarely are the real mothers of the girls seen these days on television as some really concerned women and opportunists have taken the centre stage and relishing the attendant publicity, while the parents have been pushed to the background.

When the abduction of over 200 girls took place in Chibok a day after the first Nyanya Bomb blast my heart bled. My heart bled for the girls. My heart bled for the parents and relations, and my heart bled for Nigeria my country. I remembered my good friend, brother and classmate Dauda N. Iliya. We grew up together in Mubi. Had our primary Education in Mubi before going to Federal Government College Warri for our Secondary Education. He is today at the National Secretariat of USOSA, the umbrella body of all old students of Unity Schools in Nigeria. He is as much a son of Mubi as myself, perhaps even more since he has direct telephone contact with the Emir of Mubi. But his roots are in Chibok.