300 FEARED KILLED IN FRESH PLATEAU VIOLENCE - Guardian
AGAIN, mayhem was unleashed on Plateau State at the weekend with more than over 200 people feared killed at Dogo Nahawa village in Jos South Local Council. But the Plateau State Christian Elders Consultative Forum said over 500 people were slaughtered in the fresh orgy of sectarian violence.
The victims, mostly of Berom extraction, were said to have been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen who invaded the village yesterday at about 3.00 a.m. read more

Last Saturday, voters in Anambra State came out in impressive numbers to elect a governor. The stakes were extremely high, and the obstacles formidable, but the people of Anambra did themselves great credit. After it was all over, incumbent Governor Peter Obi made history as the first two-term occupant of the Government House. And Anambra put itself forward, in my view, as a pivot for the democratic renewal that Nigeria so sorely needs.
It was a fitting and welcome transformation – a kind of revenge, in fact. read more

GBO LEADERSHIP AND AGENDA CRISIS

•How a gifted people lost out

ByOluwole Osagie-Jacobs

This article is a dispassionate examination of the plight of Nd’Igbo in contemporary Nigeria. A considerable number of the past writings on this subject had to a large extent danced around the truth. Most of them were written by some Igbo who viewed the Igbo tribe from the mindset of a people whose aspirations are being repressed by the Nigerian state.. read more

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

6 Personality traits to admire and acquire                  Brett Blumenthal

I’ve written numerous articles and posts on difficult people, personalities and relationships: Everything from Manipulative Marys to Bullies in the workplace to people who break boundaries to toxic personalities.  Let’s face it:  In life, we come across all kinds!  As humans, we often focus on those who are negative or toxic leaving it difficult to appreciate those who are positive and healthy.  Seeking out individuals with healthy, positive traits, however, may do a lot of good.   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

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

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

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

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

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
 

NGIGE GOES TO COURT