IRIJI MBAISE, one of the very rooted festivals for which Igbos in general and the Mbaise clans in particular are known is celebrated annually on August 15. Celebrated during the harvest season, this festival is set aside as a thanksgiving to God for a good harvest and offering of prayers for better ones in the seasons ahead.

ABOUT a week ago, I received a report from Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, an organisation committed to monitoring and documenting unlawful killings in Nigeria. The centre also monitors the disposition of relevant authorities saddled with administration of justice in Nigeria.

HARDBALL, an opinion column of the Nation newspapers, on Friday May 17, 2013, took a swipe on Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State over alleged comments on succession to the office of the governor of the State. The Governor was said to have communicated his aversion to being succeeded by a professional politician to a group of religious leaders when they paid him a visit at the Governor’s Lodge at Amawbia.

At the onset of the present democratic dispensation, it was clear to the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party that the major challenge confronting our nation was the establishment of an enduring democratic platform with a sustainable legitimacy. We were also convinced that such platforms should possess credible internal capacity to produce leaders who will be committed to the public purpose and whose leadership will be informed by a common good and sustained by the popular will of all citizens.

Counterfeiting and faking of drugs and food substances have assumed a global industry status, so also are the worries and concerns over the development. Particularly for Nigeria, the challenge has been the impetus needed to frontally and aggressively confront the menace. To the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Nigeria’s health boosting agency, falls that responsibility. The efforts of the Dr. Paul B. Orhii-led agency, especially its deployment of cutting edge technologies to fight and win the anti-counterfeit drugs war, have gained global recognition

There are certain demographics that give a clear indication of a country’s development profile and some insights into its economic future. Literacy rate, access to health and potable water, state of infrastructure, housing, functional public utilities, transparency in governance and efficient service delivery by government agencies etc.

IT is leadership that defines a nation. Essentially, it builds or destroys a nation. General Charles de Gaulle relevantly stated that “nothing great can be done without great (leaders)”.

IN 2002, when Mr. Peter Obi threw his towel into the political arena of Anambra State, many wondered what prompted the gentle and soft-spoken young man to dare the political jungle of the state.

BRITAIN has expressed regret for the abuse of Kenyans by colonial forces during the 1950s Mau Mau insurgency and announced compensation for 5,228 survivors, but stopped short of apologising.

I WANT to take this opportunity to respond to an article published in the Tuesday May 28, 2013 edition of the Vanguard Newspaper, captioned “Group Writes Okorocha on Ekemmegbu Oha – Afor Uzoagba Road.”