faulker002

By Sunny Ikhioya What is it about electricity supply in  Nigeria ? Why is it so difficult to simplify and bring under manageable indices, when other climes have taken it for granted and moved on to greater things? We have had our hopes raised to the zenith and brought down to mother earth during the Obasanjo era, with Bola Ige’s promise of six months delivery. We have also seen our common patrimony shared and handed over to an oligarchic few in the name of privatisation, hoping that the situation will improve. Yet, no luck.  Now Babatunde Fashola, the wonder governor of  Lagos  state, whom all have embraced to bring the lingering challenge to an end is feeling deeply frustrated. With over three years on the job, he is yet to take off. In fact, he is crying foul. What is it about power? Certain private and privileged estates in this country have constant power supply twenty four hours a day. Why is it that they are succeeding and our power companies are failing? Is it...

By  Anthony Akinola The destination of the presidency will continue to be an issue in Nigerian politics, prompting here another look at the single-term proposal. Erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposal of a single, six-year tenure for president and governor is not seminal but significant nevertheless. *Fmr President Jonathan The idea of a single-term enjoys informed opinion and was in fact forcefully presented to the Political Bureau established by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida in 1986.   General Olusegun Obasanjo, one honest critic of the politics of the Second Republic (1979-1983) specifically suggested a single-term of six years to the bureau. The Political Bureau identified with the informed views of many Nigerians regarding the desirability of a single-term presidency in the context of the history and ethnological realities of our nation but the military leadership rejected their recommendations of a single-term of five years in ...

By  Ozah Matthew The biblical tales of the wise men project moral lessons to believers especially the three who visited Jesus Christ at birth. Nowadays, it is difficult to find wise men from the four corners of the globe with good intentions. Therefore, in many ways, the Eastern leaders’ comment the other day on Peter Obi’s choice as Vice President to Abubakar Atiku in the next year’s elections is to say the least, shocking and undeserving of real and genuine leaders.  *Peter Obi at the 2016 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia Their improper act has once again, exposed some ugly nature of politics from that region. Indeed, politics of self interest seems to be very important to Igbo leaders whose ‘sophisticated’ thought now brings conflicting views into the Atiku’s running mate choice. Although, such remarks are not new in Nigeria ’s politics this one is obviously pedestrian. However, one can understand why Obi has a polarised response around the country ...

By Olu Fasan  Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of  Lagos  state, has been thrown under the bus. He will not serve a second term in office not because the people of  Lagos  state rejected him in an election but because his godfather, Bola Tinubu, pulled the plug on his re-election bid. When somebody dies, Christians often say, quoting Job 1: 21, that  “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away” . *Tinubu and Abode    Well, in  Lagos  state politics, Tinubu gives and Tinubu takes away! He is the god of  Lagos  state politics, the lord of the Lagos Manor! In 2007, before leaving office as governor of the state, Tinubu gifted the governorship to his protégé, Babatunde Fashola. Eight years later, in 2015, Fashola didn’t know his place. He too wanted to be a godfather by making one of his own protégés governor of the state against the diktat of his own godfather. But, forgive the colloquialism, godfather pass godfather! Fashola lost out, and ...