Opinion

There is tremendous hunger in Rivers State for an end to the bellicose and toxic politics that have seized the state since 1999. Media headlines about the state are frequently about political assassinations, beheadings and inconclusive elections due to widespread violence.

Heads of State, Governments and delegations from 52 African countries, including Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China met in Beijing, under the auspices of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

As a young man, I was always fond of watching our political leaders make promises, especially during election campaigns. Even as an adult, I observe that not much has changed. It is still the same culture of promises failed.

At home on Monday evening, I was engrossed in some heavy reading and writing task when I got a desperate call from my driver who had closed for the day. His friend, and some other hapless Nigerians, had just been randomly arrested at Ketu area by the “Lagos State Task Force” for undisclosed offences.

The new NEC members assumed duties at very critical and challenging times. With General Elections coming in early 2019 any political party worth its salt must get its internal dynamics right, and march as a team towards a decisive time as that of major elections in a country.

President Muhammadu Buhari was guest of honour on Sunday at the NBA Conference and he had the additional responsibility of declaring the conference open. In his address, he told the gathering of eminent lawyers and judges that his administration will prioritise national security over and above the rule of law.

Some years ago, I was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, for a public lecture. An obviously popular lecturer was invited to the podium to make his contributions. Students went gaga, screaming his nickname and giving him a standing ovation. In

It might appear strange that of all the problems that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has on his table his biggest concern is how to squeeze a journalist to disclose the source of a leak.But there’s a reason for his obsession.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuff Lasun disclosed, last week, that the National Assembly, would interrupt its annual recess and reconvene, sometime, this week, to consider an expenditure proposal for N242bn for conducting 2019 General Elections.

Considering the drama that Nigeria has witnessed since 1999, it would seem that politicians had exhausted their capacity to shock until stories began to fly around about Senator Godswill Akpabio’s possible defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Times like these require the recruitment of patriotic gladiators who must now take up the gauntlet to defend the Nigerian dream. I believe we are conditioned by our circumstances to rise to the occasion of our reality.

In the last few weeks, several political developments that can dismember the Nigerian nation have surfaced in the country. Due to the quiet disposition of Muhammadu Buhari, our current President, some people often attribute many of the happenings to him.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the “factional” leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has reportedly asked Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki to resign his position as Senate President. What exactly does the Comrade want Saraki to resign from – the Senate Presidency or even his membership of the Senate having won election into the Assembly in the first place on the platform of the APC?

The ruling All Progressives Congress has been gripped by a fever of cross-carpeting. Publicly, the party is saying it will not lose sleep. The most dramatic statement yet was by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that providence is removing stones from the party’s rice, the same rice they have been eating for three years now.

When we wrote much earlier that the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party was a coalition of strange bedfellows and a one-chance special purpose vehicle to get rid of President Goodluck Jonathan by all and any means possible, we were accused of sour grapes.

On July 20, the United States threatened to impose tariffs on all US$500bn worth of Chinese imports. Earlier on July 6, the US announced to impose 25 per cent tariffs on US$34bn worth of Chinese goods. On July 11, the US further escalated by announcing a tariff list of Chinese products worth US$200bn.

The ultimate goal of economic growth is to improve the living standard of people in any country. This goal is sustainably achieved, primarily through people’s employment income.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, thinks he has found the medicine for public opinion: listen with blocked ears.