FINALLY, seven senators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have ignored the order by their party asking them to block the screening of service chiefs recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan by fully participating in the screening exercise. The opposition party had initially issued a directive to its members in the house to frustrate the passage of the 2014 budget and the screening of ministerial nominees, alongside the confirmation of the new service chiefs. Questions that kept ringing through the mind of people are why on earth the opposition will politicize some sensitive issues that have direct bearing on safety and welfare of the people.

AT the last All Progressives Congress (APC) rally held in Yola, Adamawa State, the popular refrain among most of the contributors was the fact that the party was in place for change. The shout of “Change!” rented the air as each speaker tried to work up the crowd, mostly hired, to respond loudly by chanting “Change!”

That exactly is the situation with a large number of the country’s broadcasting organisations. Technically (and actually) many broadcasting organisations are ineligible to keep doing what they are doing, given their repeated failure to pay for the renewal of their respective licences. Up until 9 January, the scale of default in payment by radio and television organisations, including cable and pay TV services providers, to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), stood at over N3trillion.

IN 2008, following a huge outcry over his constant jetting out for treatment, the government announced that some $20 million would be spent to upgrade Aso Rock Clinic. $20 million! That clinic is for the exclusive use of the President. But there is something called the National Hospital in Abuja which I understand was founded by Maryam Abacha. This is, supposedly, Nigeria’s premier hospital, but still our big people will not patronise the place.

Hicham El Amrani is the Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). He says CAF is satisfied with the performances of players at the just concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN), hosted by South Africa.