Insecurity: ISWAP’s Threat To Attack Lagos State

 By Ayo Oyoze Baje 

”Nothing is as dangerous as power with impunity”   – Isabel Allende (Chilean journalist and author) 

My dear concerned readers, lest we forget, when yours truly wrote and got published the opinion essays titled:  ‘The Gathering Storm!’, ‘Of Gumi, Bandits and Impunity’ both in March, 2021 and followed them up with ‘Tackling Insecurity: The Hard Way, The Only Way’, it was with the fervent hope that the current crop of politicians, constitutionally entrusted with the protection of our irreplaceable lives and precious property would live up to their matching mandate. But unfortunately, they have not!   

And not unexpectedly, things have gotten worse, more than ever before in our country’s chequered history. Consider the critical issues of high inflation rate, economic challenges with alarming youth unemployment, the incredible Naira-to- Dollar exchange rate at 710( as at this day), education lockdown courtesy of the lingering ASUU strike, the aviation meltdown with huge cost of fuel. They all stare us all right on the face and we cannot but ask ourselves if we are watching a horrifying midnight movie or these encapsulate both the ‘change’ and ‘higher level’ puerile political promises the All Progressives Congress(APC)-led government promised the long-suffering Nigerians in 2015 and 2019.

Why Akume And Ortom Should Shut-Up!

By Comfort Obi

Former Governor of Benue state and now, the Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District, George Akume and, the incumbent Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom are disgracefully tearing at each other. 

*Comfort Obi

In the face of the sufferings of Benue people – economic, physical, emotional – Akume and Ortom are dancing naked in the market square. They are telling the people why both of them should be spat on the face. The irony: Both see themselves as leaders of their people.

My sincere advice to them: Shut-up and hide your faces in shame! While Benue is burning, you are playing Rome’s Nero.

APC Has Scaled Up Its Proclivities For Violence Against The Opposition – PDP

Press Statement

2019: Hold APC Responsible Should Harm Befall Atiku, Others, PDP Insists

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be held responsible should any harm befall former Vice President Abubakar Atiku or any of the PDP Presidential aspirants ahead of the 2019 general elections.

PDP's position is predicated on its comprehensive consideration of all issues relating to the threats to the life of the former Vice President, as well as similar threats and harassments of other presidential aspirants in our fold, just as our party places all these threats at the doorstep of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC.

President Buhari And The Moral Burden Of Leadership

By Dan Agbese

It is difficult to live in our country without being confused. Things are getting messier when they should be getting clearer. President Muhammadu Buhari captured our imagination in 2015 as a man totally intolerant of corruption or at least practices that give the country a bad name at home and abroad. So, we flocked to him and we gave him the vote and he became our president.

*President Buhari 

On his assumption of office his aides served notice to those of our country and women who have problems with resisting soiling their fingers with palm oil that a new sheriff was in town. A sheriff is a strong-minded law man, a thief-catcher, no less. Buhari has kept his promise to wage the anti-corruption war with the passion and the courage befitting a sheriff until this pathetic nation rises from the ashes of its failures and begins to live the hope of our founding fathers.

Nigeria: A Country That Refuses To Grow Up

By Dan Agbese

Is it a storm? Is it a gale? Is it a tsunami? It is defection, the latest virus in the sclerotic arteries of our national politics. This poison is the only lucrative political business in town today. People are defecting from APC to PDP and from PDP to APC. It beats common sense but then you would do well to remember that common sense is not exactly a marketable product in the realm of politics, here and indeed, else where.

*Nigeria's Ex-Heads Of State 

Some of us are scratching our heads, wondering about this latest, and not to put a fine spin on it, ugly development in our national politics. The politicians do not believe that they owe us an explanation for what they are doing. But we cannot pretend not to know what is pushing them out of one party into another. It is meet and proper that in search of the why question, we raise questions that seem to beg reason. One of which is, in whose interest?

If President Buhari Were A Patriot…

By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is one of only two people who have ruled Nigeria both as a military dictator and as an elected president. In a country of about 100 million citizens, this is not an insignificant accomplishment. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, President Buhari should be at the top, Self-Actualization level. He should not have any more needs. If he were a patriot he should quit right here and right now. 

But he is not.

If he were a patriot he should read the warning signs.

1. His most ardent supporters are showing signs of weariness. They still offer some defense and protection for him but they seem tepid. Mr. Lai Mohammed can lie on his behalf for only so much as his integrity begins to deteriorate. Even Professor Aluko is now willing to accept that some of PMB’s actions/lack or actions are mistakes. Mr. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (former Defense Minister), one of his richer and early backers has openly called for the North Central (NC) citizens to buy arms to protect themselves as the government is unable to do so.

2. The massive demonstrations by Christians in Abuja a few days ago show how deep the disgust of Christians with his administration is. Christians constitute about 50% of Nigerians. When a leader loses the support of most his nation, patriotism demands that he, the leader, steps aside.

Nigeria: The Impending Implosion Of APC

By Reuben Abati
Just take the phrase: “impending” in the title above with a pinch of salt. I use the word because in politics as in life, things happen – as seemingly absolute situations become redeemable and what originally appears impossible could be the catalyst for fresh opportunities.

 Otherwise, the truth is that the ruling Nigerian political party, the All Progressives Congress is already imploding, it has in fact imploded; the party is in the throes of a debilitating illness. The implosion began almost as soon as the party assumed power in 2015.

The APC emerged as a special purpose vehicle – composed almost entirely from second hand, used groups from the CPC, the ACN, APGA, ANPP, and a break away faction of the PDP, known as new PDP (nPDP) – even if there was nothing new about it, with the sole objective of taking power from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Nigeria: Banning Codeine In APC

By Owei Lakemfa

Following a codeine-propelled high drug addiction problem, the Federal Government in a swift reaction, banned the production and importation of codeine containing cough syrup. The syrup usually taken by millions of youths who mix it with soft drinks, alcohol or illegal drugs, leads to physical and mental reliance on the drug and can be fatal.

Five days after the welcome ban, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 5, held its Ward congresses across the country.  In most of the thirty six states, they were characterized by thuggery, manipulation, imposition, and in at least two cases, murder. In Rivers State, a member was shot dead right in the party secretariat while in Ughelli,  Delta State, a party chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Jeremiah Oghoveta was stabbed to death.  In Oyo State, supporters of Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi and those of Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu, were engaged in a mini Civil War with the Governor accusing  the Honourable Minister and some members of the House of Representatives of perpetuating the violence and threatening arson.

Kaduna Council Polls: Highly Provocative, Indefensible Fraud – PDP

Press Statement

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejects as highly provocative, fraudulent and completely indefensible the alteration of final results and declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner in areas clearly won by the PDP in the Kaduna state local council elections held on Saturday.

From the reports of results at the polling centers, it is clear that the PDP defeated the APC in most of the areas where elections held across the state, including Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s ward where the PDP led with over 90% percent of the votes cast.

As Imo APC Chieftains Defang Okorocha

By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who prides himself as a political colossus was taught “Politics 101” last Saturday. It didn’t come as a surprise, though. To any discerning political observer, it was only a matter of time. While he was clowning and punching way above his political weight, his opponents were waiting for the auspicious time.

*Rochas Okorocha

And when that time came, the man who claims to have conquered Imo State and dominated its hapless people himself was left high and dry. Sublime political intrigue at its best. 

Nigeria: At A Pro-Propaganda Rally

By Dan Amor

I'm not your run-of-the-mills television freak or enthusiast. Due largely to the nature of my job, which is basically guided by the need to beat deadlines, I hardly have time for over-indulgence in leisure and other niceties. Whereas my wife and kids occasionally feast on the television screen for either of their usual sops- Zee World, or Nickelodeon, yours sincerely would always lock himself up in the study writing an editorial or a column. 

Yet, since January this year (2018), I have occasionally squeezed a few minutes of my limited time in my little room to watch CHANNELS Television's flagship programme, SUNRISE DAILY. On occasions, viewers are treated to a crossfire which usually features a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and another of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are made to argue on a topical issue of public concern in a moderated atmosphere.

Nigeria: President Buhari: Resign And Run Far Away!

By Sonala Olumhense

Finally, President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed what has been known to many for nearly three years: he wants to remain in power for four more years. According to Mr. Buhari, this decision is owed not to his personal desire, but to popular clamour.  

*President Buhari 

It is always amusing when people who seek office, or want to cling to it, cite popular pressure.  The truth is that only Buhari’s circle of loyalists wants him back.  No Nigerian whose desire or interest is leadership rather than power, does. 

I am not necessarily saying Buhari will not win the re-election contest, but if he does, it will not be because he deserves it.  To begin with, voter turnout was high for him when he won in 2015, hope in full bloom.  

In 2019, betrayed Nigerian voters may revert to indifference.  Already, it is curious that mountains of voters’ cards are being ignored by their owners nationwide.  

Rebirth Of PDP And The Challenge To Buhari

By Yakubu Mohammed

By which ever means the panjandrums of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were able to patch it up, their national convention, the first since its ouster from power in 2015, has come and gone leaving in its trail the usual post- convention trauma that features some teeth gnashing, some wailings, some threats, real and imaginary and lots of conjectures about what would be and what would not be thereafter. 

But nobody, not even the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, can dismiss what the opposition party, the PDP, successfully put up as a non-event. What is left now is to see how the PDP executives under the chairmanship of Uche Secondus, manage themselves from now through to the 2019 presidential election.