THE selection of Barrister Nyesom Wike as the PDP’s ticket bearer for the 2015 gubernatorial contest was, without a doubt, one of the most bitterly contested decisions to have been taken by the party in Rivers State since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Apart from the fact that this choice went against conventional presumptions of regional power-sharing between the riverine and upland communities in the state, a substantial proportion of local political champions regarded it as having been imposed on the elite traditional structure of the state’s polity by a new generation of activists.

NORTHERN elders and the elite class have been quite vocal in the last couple of years, giving a louder voice to national issues, particularly that which affects their region. However, the sad reality is that they have focused on issues that massage the ego of the elite class and deepen the pockets of a selected few turning a blind eye on the more threatening issues eating up the region.

JUDGING from the impressive achievements of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration despite the present harsh economic situation in the country, the people of the state, friends and well-wishers have every reason to agree that “Enugu State is in the hands of God”.

A FEW events that happened in quick succession decided the headline for this article. Let me start with my personal experience. l was in the United States of America from November 2015 last year till February this year. All through my stay l could not withdraw as little as US$100 from my account, which was well funded in Nigeria before l travelled out, despite the assurance the bank gave to me that l could withdraw “not more than US$300 per day”. Reason for this catastrophe, as given by my bank officials, with genuine apology though, was that President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, of the All Progressive Congress, APC, is in the saddle in Nigeria.

By Jude Ndukwe The current travails of Femi Fani-Kayode in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had long been expected. In fact, with developments leading to his arrest, Fani-Kayode thinks the EFCC came too late. This is because owing to the current administration’s aversion to criticism even of the slightest and […]