THE choices between the people of Adamawa state in the April 11 gubernatorial election are as clear as they are extremes. The contest which in reality is between four contenders, is at the same time a two-way game between what is right and its opposite. The four frontline candidates are Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Engr. Marcus Gundiri of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and, of course, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). To any fair mind, the ideal choice, from the roll call above, is very clear.

PRIOR to the rescheduling of the Presidential and National Assembly polls to the 28th of March, there was palpable fear, mistrust and general feeling of insecurity by Nigerians culminating to the relocation of other ethnic groups from their hitherto place of residence ahead of the elections

SUNNY, what is happening to the world? That was the question my big brother Barrister Ballantyrne Ugege, of Faith chambers, Warri, threw at me as we sat reflecting on global issues generally. Thomas Hobbes’ life in the state of nature is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” but with the advancement of the human mind capabilities and interaction of people from diverse cultures, coupled with the influence of positive religion, the brutishness of man has been tampered. The whole world has become a global village and the concern of one has become the concern for all. The establishment of the United Nations organization immediately after the bitterly fought Second World War ensured that the arrangement was formalized and documented. No individual or nation can, on its own flout UN rules and regulations at will; at least that is the assumption. The world was happy and full of expectations but barely a century after, it is as if things have gone hay wire. Human lives have become worthless; killings and destructions everywhere. Nothing, no matter the value is too precious to be destroyed; man, material, edifices, all.

FOR almost eight years, the people of Akwa Ibom have been under the suffocating influence of Barrister Godswill Akpabio, the governor of the state, who, in active connivance of the federal might had subjugated the people to an unbearable level of mental and emotional torture, self doubt and humiliation in the name of governance. They persevered, prayed and hoped that someday and somehow, and by some touch of providence, they will have a Daniel come to judgement and free them from the internal slavery which they are subjected

I WAS in the late 1990s, a frequent visitor to the home of pioneer film maker and veteran journalist, Dr. Ola Balogun in Yaba, Lagos. In late 1998 with the unfolding of another Transition Programme to civil rule following the death of General Sani Abacha, he raised with me the desire of former Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf to establish a political party. Could I assist in the development of the party programme, structure and manifesto?