December 2011 Blog Posts (58)

By Ezeani Ugochukwu Thursday, December 29, 2011

It is fairly reasonable to argue that Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state is a hard worker. This fact is not contestable, at least to keen observers of development progression in the state within the last five years. But for others, mainly political opponents and cursory observers, the whole idea is a ruse. Since the man brought fiscal discipline to bear on governance, many are unwilling to dovetail with his ideas, however…

By WILSON EBITIMI PETERS Thursday, December 29, 2011

In the past few months, the issue of corruption has been given a lot of attention in the media, public gatherings, churches and mosques. It is so fashionable and topical that no public figure, even the corrupt, delivers a speech at any public gathering without a sore tribute to the word ‘Corruption’.

Like the national anthem sang by all Nigerians, from the seat of power – the Presidency to the law-making chambers of the…

The Turf Game (Jimanze Ego-Alowes, alowesjimanze@yahoo.com) 08033009539 Thursday, December 29, 2011

Of course those in the trade know that Tony Afejuku is one of our great literary and critical treasures. When he was inducted as a Fellow of the LSN, I planned a tribute to him. But a student of his beat me to it. And below is the piece as written by his former student.

By Henry Agbebire

I was in Shaftsbury Hotel in Central London, about four minutes walk from Paddington…

ByAlvan Ewuzie alvanatsun@yahoo.com, 07082020392 Thursday, December 01, 2011

It was a Tuesday morning. The Enugu airport had been shut down for maintenance. The call came through Sunday evening that Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu had finally given his nod for the interview request. This was April last year. His people had stalled for months. Nick, one of his aides, said he was in no mood to talk. Besides Bianca, who had become a guardian angel around the iconic leader, had lately shielded him…

By Femi Adeoti Thursday, December 29, 2011

This Boko Haram should not warn us again. They should not oblige us with advance notice either. We do not deserve that luxury. They should just go ahead. And do what they know how to do best.

They should continue to carry on their “lawful” duties. And “legitimate” business. We can no longer be intimidated. We have developed thick skin.

We have discovered to our chagrin. That the more they warn, the heavier the casualties. So, we are…

By Ned L. Ned Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Government is still asleep to the plight of the average Nigerian broughtt. The coming to power of President Good luck Jonathan has not wrought any positive change in the polity. Mr. Nyesom Wike minister of state, for education is going round all the schools looking to find brilliant students to answer his questions or better still speak well but to no avail.

If you ask me, the minister is on a jamboree. Before his present appointment as…

By Dimgba Igwe (08055001932 dimgbaigwe2011@gmail.com) Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Photo: Saharareporters

Dear Pastor Dimgba, I am a non-Igbo but preparing to attend the burial of the Eze Igbo Gburugburu. For one, I feel a kindred spirit with these republican free spirited people but mostly because no one in Nigeria past or present has stood up for a cause for his people…

By OKEY NDIBE (okeyndibe@gmail.com) Tuesday, December 20, 2011

In his days on the stump, former US President Bill Clinton was famous for telling hapless voters with stories of woe, “I feel your pain.” Mr. Clinton, who grew up poor – raised by an impoverished mother and an often-abusive stepfather – earned many a comedian’s jibe for his all-too liberal use of that phrase.

Even so, many political pundits credit the former American president with working relentlessly to improve…

With Dan Onwukwe (08023022170 dan_onwukwe@yahoo.com|)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Late Odimegwu Ojukwu

Photo: The Sun Publishing

Dan, thanks so much for your article, titled Ojukwu: when someone you love dies.

I often look forward to your essays. I did notice a few discrepancies which regrettably, I must point out to you.

Granted that most people these days do not read with…

Written by Augustine Adah Saturday, 24 December 2011

Akin Oyebode, former vice chancellor of University of Ado Ekiti, says Nigeria lost Bakassi to Cameroon because of its inability to engage the service of experts in international relations

The importance of engaging experts on international relations by policy makers to advise the government on foreign policies was the crux of the lecture delivered recently by Akin Oyebode, professor of International Law at the 2011 University…

By EZE UGOCHUKWU Monday, December 26, 2011

According to historian Thomas Woods, it is the duty of government to enforce peace and prevent injustice among the people it rules. Also John Locke argued in his Second treatise of Government that laws could only be legitimate if they sought to achieve the common good. Taking it further, Thomas Hobbes stated that the justification for political obligation is that men will choose to submit to authority when it is conducive to their own…

By Yahaya Etila Monday, December 26, 2011

The recent protest against the introduction of tolls along the Lekki-Epe expressway is one of the signs of a democratic society. No democratic leadership should ever be afraid or averse to public demonstrations over policies. However, no government worth its salt will sit idly by and allow sponsors of political violence who are bent on creating political discontent due to their electoral failures to hijack such protest to cause…

By Eric Osagie (ericosagie@sunnewsonline.com) Monday, December 26, 2011

They had gone to church dressed in their Xmas best. The whole family: father, mother and children. To pray to God for the opportunity of witnessing another yuletide. And of course, to ask for His continuous blessings in their endeavours. Expectedly, they sang and danced merrily. Their eyeballs, the picture of joy. Joy to the world for the birth of Christ. The mass ended. Pumping of hands and back slapping. Usual…

By OMONIYI SALAUDEEN Sunday, December 25, 2011

Globally, the outgoing year 2011 has been eventful. In the United States, for instance, President Barack Obama had to grapple with the challenges arising from the worsening debt crisis and rising unemployment. The Arab Spring is particularly more spectacular. Almost simultaneously, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen among others erupted into violence with citizens demanding a change of government. Syria is still burning almost nine months after the…

His Excellency, Honorable chairman, Chief Launcher, co-launchers Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to all of you, on behalf of Aguata…

You were very close to your dad. How has it been since his demise?

I was very…

By Robert Obioha, robobioha@yahoo.com Friday December 23, 2011

When I recall Prof. Chinua Achebe’s rejection of the recent national honour given to him by President Goodluck Jonathan on the basis that those things that made him reject the offer during the era of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo are still there, my mind quickly raced to Bayelsa State where the incumbent governor, Timipre Sylva, is being treated as a political orphan by the interest groups and the powers that…

By ADEDAYO AKINTOBI Friday December 23, 2011

I don’t know about you, but I’m not so sure I want to be Nigerian anymore. Kindly don’t misapprehend that disavowal though, for I do love this country; indeed, dearly so. In spite of its imperfections and congenital dysfunction, there’s nowhere else on the face of this earth I would rather call my homeland.

Alas, what being Nigerian has come to mean of late has me seriously considering opting out. Opting out, not of my origin,…

PUBLIC SPHERE By Onuoha Ukeh [onukeh@sunnewsonline.com] Friday December 23, 2011

Weeks before the Senate passed the anti-gay marriage law, ace actor, Jibola Dabo, said something I consider germane. Speaking in an interview published in Saturday Sun, October 15, 2011, he had declared: “I will be mad to be gay when there are beautiful women around.” He was reacting to a reporter’s question, as to whether he was gay, going by the way he handled a role in a gay movie. Some people may see…

By Duro Onabule (duroonabule@gmail.com) Friday November 25, 2011

When moves were made in 2010 to amend certain sections of the Electoral Act, the intention was ostensibly to remove whatever parties that were heating up the polity. As it turned out, the supposedly amended act was a product of group vested political interests all aimed at subjugating ordinary citizens to the whims and caprices of a gang. Unfortunately for this gang, either through ignorance or blind desperation for…