AND SO IT CAME TO PASS

Solana Olumhense

And so, it came to pass that the 90th day was upon the land. And the 100th day was not far off. And still there was no sign of The Sick One, who continued to hide away in an alien hospital under alien laws, his ears blocked with alien cotton buds. In his home land, far away, his people grew increasingly restless. And Eminent Citizens from far and near held a meeting. Lawyers from far and near held a meeting. Even publicists and scribes, tired of simply writing about the crisis, came from far and near and held a meeting, for fear they might have to write not about the crisis, but an outright war. read more

Juliana Ogunro

I could imagine the emotions on the faces  of members of the Federal Executive Council when Dora Akunyili presented the now-famous memo. Surprise and disbelief. After these initial reactions, anger seemed to be the dominant mood at the meeting as the hawks rudely shot the memo down. The pretext was that it didn’t follow due process as it should have been circulated to members at least one week before it was discussed in council. But that is bunkum read more

YAR’ADUA AND NIGERIA: TOWARDS A MORE PERFECT UNION?

Michael Egbejumi-David

I cannot imagine anywhere else in the world where what Yar’Adua and his handlers are currently successfully pulling off in Nigeria could happen.  The Constitution, as it has turned out, is not even worth the paper it is printed on.  It is not just the impunity; it is the stark and clumsy way disorderliness and unconstitutionalism is being effected.  I want to say Nigeria has never had it so bad, but on reflection, Nigeria has always had it horribly bad .read more

Nigerians would recall that when I was asked of my opinion on whether President Umaru Yar’adua should resign and hand over to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, a week after he left for medicare in Saudi Arabia on 23 November 2009, I said it was too premature to take such an action.  This is because there was need to give the president all benefits of doubt regarding his health, and to give him some time, as the political situation might not be as serious as was being portrayed then.
Now, it is exactly 57 days today (23 November 2009 to 19 January 2010) read more..

Odimegwu Onwumere

The hallmark conception among many Nigerians, who want to be in a POSITION by magic or design, is to initiate subtle propagation of truth cleverly wrapped in lies. In response to the genuine desire of truth seekers, disinformation artists deliberately add fuel to the fires of conviction, sabotaging any leeway that honest seekers would ever uncover the truth. That is the problem in Ogoniland. Fourteen years is gone since Ken Saro-Wiwa and his other Ogonis were killed by the Federal Government read more

PRAYER AS A WEAPON OF DISTRACTION

Azubuike Ishiekwene 

Even at normal times, Nigerians wear religion on their sleeves, paste it on their car bumpers and post it on their windscreens. In the last three weeks, however, the country has become one huge cathedral, with politician after politician and cleric after cleric, mounting the stage to request special prayers for President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is now spending his third week at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. read more

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra- MASSOB has explained why policemen from Zone 9 Command, Umuahia  arrested its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike last Tuesday.  The self-determination group said it was because  Uwazuruike was insisting that MASSOB’s name would not be used to disrupt Anambra governorship election on 6 February .MASSOB National Director of Information- Comrade Uchenna Madu stated this in a statement made available to P.M.NEWS. “His arrest was as a result of MASSOB’s detention of Mr. Paschal Okorie who has just arrived from USA to organize and empower the so-called Biafra Army in readiness to disrupt Anambra State governorship election”. read more

ANAMBRA ELECTIONS: AN EYE  OPENER ON OUR REAL PROBLEM

Sahara Reporters

Like most Anambarians, non Anambra indigenes and residents, I spent most part of yesterday following the reports of polls via the internet. As usual, anticipated and highly expected, there were several skemishes. Despite all these, a new lesson was learnt on why our electoral system and programme are perenially problematic. It is the complacency of the voters. Yesterday was the day when gladiators of Abuja and Anambra politics tried to outwit and outsmart one another in what seemed like a do-or-die affair. Names like Prince Arthur Eze were copiously read more

NDI ANAMBRA, CHASE THEM, CHASE THEM (CRAZY RIGGERS) AWAY!

Elochukwu Afoka

As February 6, 2010 draws nigh―the supposed day for the wananchi of Anambra to exercise their franchise in order to determine who governs them for next four years, there seems to be this foreboding feeling: that a coterie of unscrupulous elements are very much at the corners of the state to deny the people of that fiefdom their inalienable right to determine who governs them. The specter, very much writ large, as I ferreted out, in one on one interlocution with the people of the state, is not far from being in tandem with the latest interception of some vehicles in Okija en route to only–God–knows–where, laden with electoral materials. read more

Jon Chikadibie Okafo

Nigerians are living in dangerous times, there is a very bleak and gloomy atmosphere hanging in the air. Fear of a great magnitude is stalking the land, hapless citizens of this potentially great nation are just drifting along, hungry, angry, and scared. This situation is not a figment of anybody’s imagination; it is real, very tangible and extremely persistent - welcome to Nigeria, the famed “Giant of Africa”. Lately, the key issue that is a part of the issues plaguing Nigeria is that of kidnapping. le practice of kidnapping their fellow traumatized citizens as a means to an end ... read more

FORENSIC  FORCE: Unmasking Nigeria's Elite

Salisu Suleiman

It is common for analysts of all sorts to blame the ills of our nation on the ‘ruling elite'. The question then is; who are these ruling elite, and what do they have in common? Indeed, what makes them part of the ruling elite?
Typically, one would include the political class, top businessmen, traditional rulers and others in the higher echelons of society in this class. But in noting the ruling elite of Nigeria today, the influence of the military is obvious. Indeed, if you are looking for now and future members of this class, look towards the military.... read more 

NIGERIAN LEGISATORS: LAWMAKERS oR COMMONWEALTH LOOTERS?

 Daniel Elombah

President Umaru Yar’Adua labelled Nigerian lawmakers a do-nothing-legislature, yet, Nigerian Senators and Representatives reportedly gulps more than N4.7 Billion Pay Package a year (N40m each per month). Only 25 members from the 19 Northern States, representing about 13 percent of the North's total 190 members in the House of Representatives sponsored or made meaningful contributions to any bills in the last two years ... read more