Public Affairs Analyst

 I am deeply worried about the rising cases of terminal sicknesses, auto accidents and suicides in Nigeria. These days, many diseases that used to be prevalent in old people are now afflicting young ones, even teenagers. Hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, kidney failure, liver damage, are few of them. What could be responsible for this change? How can we stem this ugly tide? Who are the responsible actors that will bring about the desired change? There is no gainsaying that lifespan of Nigerians is diminishing. World Health Ranking said “According to the latest World Health Organisation data published in 2015, life expectancy in Nigeria is: Male 53.4, female 55.6 and total life expectancy is 54.5 which gives Nigeria a World Life Expectancy ranking of 171.” According to WHR, the  following are the top 20 causes of death among Nigerians:  Influenza and Pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, Stroke, Coronary Heart Disease, Diarrhea diseases, Malaria, Diabetes Mellitus, Meningitis, Pro...

The Muhammadu Buhari administration was voted into office on March 28, 2015 because it promised ‘Change from the Norm’. The president promised among other things to fight corruption to standstill, wage war against insecurity, revive the economy and make life better for the populace. In truth, the anti-corruption war is on course. This administration set up a presidential advisory committee on anti-corruption under the able leadership of the constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, its implementation of the Treasury Single Account initiated by its immediate predecessor had yielded trillions of Naira in savings, the sustained use of Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System has assisted the government to weed out huge number of ghost workers as well as saved billions of Naira hitherto being diverted to personal pockets. Through the Bank Verification Number introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, many corrupt persons have been exposed while the newly launched Whistleblowe...

“ Our democracy is maturing and the commission believes that there should be certainty with regard to the timetable for elections. For instance, in the United States, general elections always hold on the second Tuesday of November in the election year. In Ghana, it’s the 7th of December of the election year, while in other places like Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Costa Rica and Switzerland, the dates are also known in advance. In Nigeria, the constitution provides for elections to hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days to the end of the incumbent’s tenure. In order to ensure certainty in our dates for elections, and to allow for proper planning by the commission, political parties, security agencies, candidates and all stakeholders, the commission has decided to fix the date for the national elections for the third Saturday in February of the election year, followed by state elections two weeks later.”   - Prince Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, INEC National Commissioner...

Nigerian Constitution vested enormous powers in the office of the president but it will seem the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, is apprehensive or too circumspect to use the powers bestowed on him by the grundnorm . Right from the inception of this administration on May 29, 2015, it is crystal clear that Buhari is always at pain making necessary appointments as required by law. Maybe the president would have preferred to run this country as a sole administrator. It took the president several weeks before he could appoint his personal aides. It was six months before he could appoint his ministers. Ambassadors are being appointed two years into his administration. Several board positions, heads of government departments and agencies are vacant for more than a year and the president has not deemed it fit to appoint substantive chief executives for those institutions. Is the president trying to save money he would have used to pay salaries of these people? How much will that amo...

“…the main mission of our administration is therefore to lead a patriotic, highly inspired and competent team to rescue the ship of our state. We intend to help rebuild our economy, resuscitate damaged infrastructure, restore hope and return our state to a prosperous land. We are determined as an administration to break down the barriers that have made stagnation possible. We will break down the barriers to honest leadership, to comprehensive development, to physical growth and social security.” -           Excerpt from the inaugural speech of new governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, on February 24, 2017 There is a new sheriff in town in the ‘Sunshine State’. He is Mr. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN). He was sworn in as the 17th helmsman and indeed the sixth civilian governor of 41 year old Ondo State last Friday. His civilian predecessors include Pa. Adekunle Ajasin, Evangelist Bamidele Olomilua, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, D...