Public Affairs Analyst

I am worried, deeply worried about the many atrocities we daily commit against children in Nigeria. The future looks grim, ominous and unsafe unless we retrace our steps and start doing things right both as parents and as government. Nigerian children are increasingly being molested, dehumanised, traumatised, and impoverished in spite of a decade of passage of the Child Rights Act 2003 by the Federal Government while no fewer than 16 states had also adopted and ratified the law. It is a common feature to read about paedophiles who prey on young girls. Hardly would a day pass without reports of teachers allegedly raping their pupils, neighbours having a forceful carnal knowledge of their co-tenants’ female children or fathers raping their daughters. What incest! The PUNCH of April 25, 2013 documents some incidents of rape of minors. The story was told of one 47-yea-old Amuda who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl four times. Unfortunately, in the past six months, the girl in questio...

First ladyship has its origin in the United States of America. According to history, it originated in 1849 when US President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison ‘First Lady’ at her funeral while reciting her eulogy.   However, it was said to have gained wider recognition in 1877 when Mary C. Amees wrote an article in the New York City newspaper, The Independent describing the inauguration of President Rutherford B. Hayes. She was quoted as having used the term to describe his wife, Lucy Webb Hayes. The term is now used all over the world to describe the wife of president or Head of State. In Nigeria, apart from using it to designate President’s wives, it is also used for wives of governors and those of Local Government chairmen. Much was not heard of this term in Nigeria until the administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Retd.) came to power in 1985. Hitherto, wives of former Prime Minister and Heads of State just play ceremonial role of hosting dignitaries; b...

Oyo State is made up of many big towns and cities among which are Ogbomoso, Oyo, Iseyin, Saki, Ibarapa, and Eruwa. However, none of these is comparable to the state capital, Ibadan, a prominent Yoruba town. I am proud of my identity with Ibadan having been born and bred in the ancient city. I have done all but one of my schooling in the city. The only exception being my first degree which I am privileged to have acquired at the University of Lagos. At Nigeria’s independence, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country and the third in Africa after Cairo and Johannesburg. Ibadan is a city surrounded by hills hence names of areas such as Oke-Padi (Padre), Oke-Ado, Oke-Bola, Oke-Are, while the famous Mapo Hall built in 1929 is situated on a hill (Mapo Hill) as well. Ibadan people are generally very hospitable, tolerant and selfless. When compared to Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, the cost of living in Ibadan is cheap. Ibadan is the political and administrative headqu...

My intervention this week is on the importance, role, and intrigues surrounding the office of the deputy governor. Before launching into it, I wish to offer my condolences to the government and good people of Ekiti State on the death of their deputy governor, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, which sad event took place on Saturday, April 6, 2013. May the good Lord comfort the family of the departed. Alhaji B.B Faruk of Kano State; Abdullahi Argungu of Kebbi State; John Okpa of Cross River; Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele and Mr. Femi Pedro both of Lagos State; Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi of Taraba State; Alhaji Garba Gadi of Bauchi State; Iyiola Omisore of Osun State; Mr. Enyinnaya Abaribe (now a senator) of Abia State; Obong Chris Ekpenyong of Akwa Ibom State; Peremobowei Ebebi of Bayelsa; Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia of Jigawa; and now, Sir Jude Agbaso of Imo State, all have something in common: They were all former deputy governors who got removed. Since the impeachment a...

“Since I assumed office, we have taken deliberate steps in conjunction with the National Boundaries Commission to identify our borders and the routes that lead to Nigeria from other countries, and in the process, we have been able to identify 84 regular borders and over 1,487 irregular routes to the country.” –Abba Moro, Minister of Interior When I read this information in the February 6, 2013 edition of The PUNCH , it dawned on me that Nigeria, my dear native land, is indeed in trouble. There is no doubt that the country is a huge land mass covering a total area of 923,768sq. km (land: 910,768 sq. km and water: 13,000 sq. km). Given this magnitude of irregular entry points, any wonder the country is faced with huge population of illegal aliens? It is true that there is ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods. However, such persons have to be well-documented by the Immigration Service. The activities of illegal immigrants have constituted a great security risk to Ni...