Nigeria as “Election 2019” draws near. By Edwin Madunagu

The Nigerian situation as we approach “Elections 2019” can be sketched around five issues. Three of these are “problems of Nigeria” as summarized in my last published piece, Nigeria 2019: Hoping for another reprieve? (January 3, 2019). The fourth issue may be called the “power of incumbency”. The fifth is the problem of the Nigerian Left. Details

Why we should thank Mathew Kukah. By Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia

What one would expect of a responsible people faced with this type of challenge is to thank the Church for reminding them of their responsibility and come up with a more comprehensive programme than that of Mathew Kukah. Unfortunately, the kind of sentiments being expressed and the fact that more than a year after Kukah mooted this idea nothing has come up from our religious leaders and our “Shariah compliant” politicians portray us as a people not serious. Details

Who is Talking Buhari’s Politics? By Okachikwu Dibia

One of the reasons Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 election is because none of his followers took quality time to explain to Nigerians the good works of his administration. It was after he had left office and these books were written that I got to know that he initiated the treasury single account (TSA) policy that was geared towards fighting corruption in the Public Service. ... President Mohammadu Buhari (PMB) is about to suffer the same faith. Whenever I hear or listen to his lieutenants and followers, all I deduce is reactionary responses to the distracting allegations from the opposition political parties. Details

Rumour’s Argument on Nigeria’s Stolen and Wasted Resources. By Okachikwu Dibia

As a young boy growing up in Nigeria in the early 1980s, Rumour told me that $2.8 billion got missing during the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ-rtd) which lasted between 1976-1979. But no one has challenged him in the court of law over the matter; and Rumour insists that even the government was aware of it and did nothing. In Naira terms today, this amounts to N854 billion. Details

Igbo Must Not Become Political Football In Lagos. By Farouk Martins Aresa

There is a growing rift between Yoruba and Igbo in Lagos. It will be sheer folly to dismiss the obvious. But the way to solve it is by appealing to your intellect, not scary political tactics against your neighbors. Sincere sensible people must discuss problems openly and look for solutions. Leaving it in the hands of politicians only, will make matter worse. There are growing nationalism, ethno phobic and xenophobia sentiments worldwide. Details

Pantami as a Metaphor. By Adamu Tilde

The appointment of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), September 2016, to the position of the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) by president Muhammadu Buhari could have provoked the usual and expected bashings of the north by the Southern press as a product of quota and federal character system. For the fact that Dr. Pantami had a steady academic career that spanned for almost two decades, rising to the position of an associate professor, put an end to the question of competence and merit; his expertise and training in the IT-industry made the appointment more relevant and timely. Details

Should INEC Allow Can To Monitor 2019 Polls? By  Nduka Uzuakpundu

The leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) are being unnecessarily ambitious. There appears to be a drive in them, for what’s clearly a selfish – if destructive – motive, structured on inordinate expectations – with a touch of arrogance – to dictate the modalities and constitution of certain crucial political developments in Nigeria. The other day, CAN was reported to have approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it wanted to be recognized as one of the posse of observers of the 2019 general elections. Details

Stop: “Gifted” Showoff Teasers Daring Our Poor Majority To Crime. By Farouk Martins Aresa

Philanthropy is not new in Africa, it is part of our culture. We pride ourselves by how generous we were to our neighbors and communities. There was a boss of ours that reminded us of this African way of life. People whispered behind his back that the children of his girlfriend he was sending to school were not his. He whispered back that if he could send the children of those he hardly knew in his community and children of his house helps to schools, why not those of his girlfriends. This is who we are as Africans. Details

Osibajo Vs Obi: Implication Of The Choice Of A Running Mate. By Manwu Samuel

The Game is set, in less than 95 days Nigeria will decide. But the beauty of any game is when the contenders abide by the rules governing the game.the question is ', is it always easy to abide by the laws of the game when you are at the verge of losing and with the consciousness that the instruments to subvert Justice are at your beck and call? Find out in the next article "Electoral Umpire and Security Operatives: path to ensuring free and fair elections in Africa." Details

General Alkali: What Will His Death Change? By Ezekiel Daminabo

The circumstances surrounding the recent death of retired Gen Idris Alkali elicited deep seated pathos round the country and even beyond as many found it difficult to come to terms with the brazen and heartless conduct of his killers. While the circumstance of his final moments at the hands of his killers remain uncertain, the reportedly frantic efforts by his killers to move his body from place to place in the heat of the chase by the Nigerian Army team, who had earlier launched a systematic search for him, tells volumes of the dastardly enterprise of his traducers. Details

Gandujegate And Absurd Celebration Of Fraud In Kano. By Mukhtari Usman Dandago

One is of the opinion that, civility and patriotic disposition would have demanded all and sundry to remain calm only, especially as proceedings of the investigating panel were aired live in all radio stations in Kano and beyond, to reflect on the dire consequences of the fallout to collective integrity image of the people of Kano and the state as a corporate entity. Running in circle in defense of indefensible by untoward means will not help anybody, especially our dear state. We must call a spade a spade so that we can use a spade when only a spade is needed. Details

Datti Ahmed: Time for a Paradigm Shift in the North. By Ibrahim Shehu

In many parts of the south, the perception of the North has remained an abstraction from the pre- and immediate post-independence era, where because of historical reasons, the rate of attainment of Western education remains abysmally low. Though every part of the country has its unique challenges, there has been a tendency to see the North from the prisms of the pre-indence era: many people from the South still believe that many Northerners, especially Northern Muslims in responsible positions must have attained their heights because of quota or favouritism; those doing very well in business are also believed to have done so through the connection or manipulation of access to state power or exploitation of feudal privileges. Details

Missing the scripts of a columnist: A tribute to Mohammed Haruna @67. By Abdullahi Yusuf Tela

After his service to the motherland, in 1976, the veteran journalist got a job as a reporter in the defunct vibrant New Nigerian newspaper where he had his long time professional career. Haruna because of his resilience, rose from the ranks from a reporter to being the Managing Director in 1985. During his years in the NNN, he had his Masters in Mass communication from another prestigious institution, Harvard University. He retired in 1989. Details

Reflection on the Future of Public Broadcasting in Africa and Asia. By Abdulwarees Solanke

At a time public broadcasting has patriotic role to play in galvanizing  public participation in the polity, engendering development, promoting cohesion, inclusiveness and diversity as well as preserving cultural identity in the developing countries,  many public broadcasters are in serious hiccups with lacklustre appeal, losing their best hands to private and foreign broadcasters with the  commercial and cable channels who smile to the bank as advert revenue flows freely for them while it thins out for public broadcasters, most whom are under threat of being commercialized or sold to private concerns because of unsustainability. Details