After more than three months of extensive deliberations, consultations and dialogue on ways of unraveling the root causes of insurgency in Northern Nigeria and how to achieve lasting peace within the region, the Tanimu Turaki-led Peace and Dialogue Committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan finally submitted its report.

I was with the All Progressives Congress train that went to Kano Government House to invite Governor Musa Kwankwaso to join the league of progressives in the country, determined to bring about the change we need.

IT is an unfortunate reality of our times that many Nigerians have become experts at disapproving. Indeed, they are lacking in the simple yet humane act of giving credit where it is due. A major case in point is the often unreasonable denigration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GEJ, by bitter men and women of yesterday who have nothing positive to offer the nation today.

At inauguration, Governor Seriake Dickson clearly spelt out the strategic value of the Restoration Agenda of his administration.

The world witnessed a playing style exhibited by our own U-17 boys team at the recently concluded FIFA event that has not been seen since the inception of the competition at that level.

The idea by those behind the ‘leaks’ was ostensibly to dehumanize and demonize the nominee to the Supreme Court before the American public and in the court of public opinion. But at the end of the controversial hearing, the nominee was confirmed and he got the job. Before that nominee assumed his position in the court, he spoke addressing many issues including what he considered the planned, coordinated, orchestrated and well funded effort by some people to find him guilty even before trial. He described it as an attempt at ‘hitech lynching’.

It was a rare gathering in Ondo town last weekend, as the nation’s decision makers joined the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, in marking his 7th year on the throne and his 60th birthday.

It was a notoriously crowded field. Yet as they gathered at a Town Hall meeting, only two gubernatorial candidates were on the raised platform.

Perhaps 50 years ago, it would have been awkward and superfluous to ask this question. In the late 60s through the 70s and earlier part of the 80s, marriage was seen as what a man and a woman go into for the rest of their lives; it was very odd to hear of separation and divorce.

AT a time when hardship was taking a toll on the people of Warri-North LGA, perhaps as a result of the general economic depression, communal conflict and the pollution of the environment resulting from unchecked activities of oil exploration companies and crude oil theft, a proper and committed representation is what the people need.