Public Affairs Analyst

Unknown to many, there are two constitutionally recognized electoral management bodies in Nigeria. The most widely known is the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which conducts general elections into the positions of President, National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), Governor, State House of Assembly and the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The other election management body is the State Independent Electoral Commission which conducts election into the Local Government Area Councils. There are thirty-six (36) of them. While the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) established INEC in section 153 (f), the grundnorm gives birth to SIEC in section 197 (1) (b). Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission is responsible for the conduct of election into the chairmanship and councillorship of the sixteen (16) LGAs of the state. EKSIEC is at present earnestly preparing to hold local council election on February 4, 2012. The earlier ...

The January 2-16 people’s revolt against fuel subsidy removal is a clear testimony that Nigerians are no longer docile. The uprising shows that my compatriots no longer enjoy ‘suffering and smiling’. Since 1980 or thereabout when the former President Shehu Shagari’s administration introduced austerity measures down to 1986 when the Structural Adjustment Programme was inaugurated by former military president Ibrahim Babangida, it has been only the masses that have been making all the sacrifices, tightening their belts, while our leaders loosen theirs due to their bulging tummies. Never again shall we suffer the fool. There is a saying that “you can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” It is true that some people died in the course of the two weeks protest; many, including government, lost huge revenue (the National Bureau of Statistics estimated that Nigeria’s economy lost N207.4bn ($1.2b); propert...

Reading about the plight of septuagenarian ace actor, James Akwari Iroha better known as Giringory Akabuogu of the famed but now rested soap Masquerade in Saturday Sun of January 21, 2012, I was moved to tears. According to Emeka Anokwuru, the reporter who interviewed him, James Iroha who is now 70 years old is sick, poor, blind, and dying gradually. Giringory was one of the two troublesome servants of Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, alias 4:30 played by the ace comedian Chika Okpala. The other servant being Clarus. Other members of the cast of Masquerade later renamed New Masquerade were: Chief Jegede Shokoya, the youngest millionaire in the whole universe; Apena wife of Jegede played by the late Christy Essien Igbokwe; Ovularia, wife of Chief Zebrudaya; Natty, etc. I recall with nostalgia other soaps on air between 1970s and 1990s which used to thrill me. These include Cock Crow at Dawn with cast such as Uncle Gaga, Papa Bitrus and the likes; Hotel De Jordan; Samanja; Iche Ok...

Budget 2012: Employment generation as antidote to security crisis

Welcome to 2012. In keeping faith with my fans, here is the highlight of my media advocacy in 2011. In the out-gone year, I got busier, minding how my country Nigeria is governed. Among issues I commented on were Elections, Politics, Economy, Violence, Sports, Women, Health, Agriculture, Unemployment, Legislature, Judiciary, Education, Population and other sundry national issues. On the whole 57 of my articles were published 76 times across 12 national newspapers and two newsletters. I was on radio six times and on television only once in 2011. Newspapers The Punch Friday, January 7, 2011 My Wishes for Nigeria in 2011 Article Daily Sun Wednesday, January 12, 2011 Reward as incentive for Electoral Violence Article Daily Independent Friday, February 4, 2011 The Nexus Between Campaign Finance and Electoral Violence Article Daily Sun Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Nigeria 2011 Party Primaries in Retrospect Article National Mirror Friday, February 18, 2011 Issue Based Campaign, Please! Article ...