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	NIGERIANNEWS GUEST COLUMNS 2008 AD August, 2008 Total Collapse of Health System: A time bomb waiting to go off. by Charles Oguntade August 20, 2008 Every time I think about the health system in Nigeria and compare it with what operates in other parts of the world, my heart bleeds. Over the years, I have thought over why our situation is so different but I am unable to find any good reason, sometimes you will even want to think may be it’s a kind of a curse or perhaps is just our way of life. Even countries that are less privileged in both human and material resources are able to get it right to some extent. NigerianNews Guest Column July, 2008 GOV.ROTIMI AMAECHI:IN THE DESERT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE by Chiso Obiandu July 18, 2008 When I learnt that Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) chaired by the retired revered Justice Kayode Eso, I feigned indifference of the highest order. Though I keenly followed the events as they unfolded at the then Justice Chukwudifu Oputa panel- which bears characteristics akin to this, I also knew that setting up of the Commission was an effort geared towards bringing peace to the long troubled and scary state, I could not put things into perspective and appreciate that no matter what happens- whether the Commission will find the ‘Truth’ and bring the ‘Peace’ or not, a lot will be exposed none the less. NigerianNews Guest Column June, 2008 What a crab? by Sesan Bello What an impractical way to tackle a problem when a problem isn’t identified as a problem? This is a direct response to government’s remarks about the hunger facing us in Nigeria. While the relatively more comfortable and wealthier nations astutely square up with the present global food crisis by officially acknowledging it; adopting strategic plans to mitigate its unpleasant effects on its people, poor and disadvantaged Nigeria is still denying it, with ministers and officials claiming there is no food shortage; that what we have in Nigeria is mere increase in prices. This is totally ridiculous. NigerianNews Guest Column Suit: Gani Fawehinmi v. President of Nigeria and Ors. by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, LLD, SAN June 10, 2008 A DECLARATION that the appointment of Chief (Mrs) Farida Waziri as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the 1st defendant, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in May, 2008 is illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever as the Office of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was not vacant in that at the time of the appointment, the incumbent Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has not been removed from office by the 1st defendant, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as he is required so to do by Section 3(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act No. 1 of 2004. NigerianNews Guest Column Open Letter to the President of the Senate by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, LLD, SAN June 01, 2008 The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, has referred the name of Chief (Mrs) Farida Waziri to the Senate for confirmation as the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). NigerianNews Guest Column May, 2008 MORMON CHURCH KEEPING ITS RACIST PAST SECRET FROM AFRICAN MORMONS by Darrick T. Evenson May 15, 2008 Today there are about 200,000 Mormons in the countries of Ghana and Nigeria. All but perhaps 2,000 of them are natives of those countries. The rest are mostly white missionaries. You can recognize them because they dress in suits, often ride bikes, and white shirts and dark ties with black name-tags saying "Elder" or "Sister" and "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints". These are Mormon missionaries. I was one myself many years ago. NigerianNews Guest Column March, 2008 MY DREAMS AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD by Ogungbade Oyeyemi March 31, 2008 A journey of thousand miles will begin with a single step. Life is an empty dream. Dream is something having great beauty or charm. Dream means a vision of fantasy. It means a picture existing only in the mind. A focused man should, will and must definitely have a dream. The dream must not be an ordinary one, but for the future. NigerianNews Guest Column The 'wasted generation' syndrome by Sesan Bello March 08, 2008 A mere weepy-mushy statement, some will say, but the truth, it is. A very bitter pill to shove down the throat, by those concerned and of course, one that takes only the fearless to swallow. This is how I view Danjuma’s recent proclamation that the generation to which he belongs had failed and ‘should quit the stage for the younger generation.’ NigerianNews Guest Column Can Good Governance Bestow Legitimacy on Yar’Adua’s Government? by Onye Nnodim March 01, 2008 On Tuesday the 26^th of February 2008, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Nigeria ruled in favor of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. It upheld the results of the 2007 presidential election in Nigeria, which brought Yar’Adua to power. The election was widely criticized by the European Union and international observers as fundamentally flawed in various respects. Today, the international observers are gone and the European Union is comfortably silent. NigerianNews Guest Column February, 2008 Five Years of No Pensions to Retired Teachers by Onye Nnodim February 22, 2008 This is not one of my academic scribbles, but rather a lamentation about the state of retired school teachers in Imo state and perhaps, in other parts of Nigeria. It’s a matter that requires immediate attention, what the late Martin Luther King categorized as the “urgency of now”. I will be brief. NigerianNews Guest Column MEND asks President Bush to Mediate Dispute by Scott A Morgan February 22, 2008 The Current President of the United States is a Lame Duck. This is a term that means He will be taking actions that will shore up his Legacy. Or even take steps that will change how both the World at Large and the Citizens of the United States view how he lead the last 8 years. NigerianNews Guest Column January, 2008 CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA- THE LEADING ORGANIZATION by *Ochy Orji* January 10, 2008 The fight for corruption is on the lips of every person in Nigeria – including the corrupt and the honest. Some in fighting the menace are even clamouring that the corrupt governors should be allowed to answer their charges from the comfort of their homes and have adequate time to intermediate and eliminate known witnesses. NigerianNews Guest Column This bell tolls for all of us by Patience Akpan-Obong January 08, 2008 A chief in one of the villages in Abak, Akwa Ibom State, was murdered by hired gunmen on Nov. 28, 2007. His name was Chief Timothy Titus Akpan, aged 63. He was my father. NigerianNews Guest Column 2007 AD November, 2007 A Surpise Attack in Cameroon: New Crisis to emerge? by Scott A Morgan November 21, 2007 The news over this past weekend that 21 Members of the Cameroonian Military were killed in an Ambush in the controversial Bakassi region did nothing more but to highlight the ever increasing tensions in the region. Initial Reports indicated that the Nigerian Military may have been involved due to the proximity to the border of the attack. But the Attack was carried out by a group known as the "Liberators of the Southern Cameroon People." NigerianNews Guest Column THIS ADEDIBU MUST NOT DIE by Odunayo Kila November 11, 2007 Nigeria in the immediate past decades has contended with various Adedibu-manifestations. Thuggish-Adedibu, anarchic-Adedibu, political buffoonery-Adedibu, and such others have been the presentations of the persona. NigerianNews Guest Column KEBBI Election: Tribunal Went Beyond Its Mandate? by Sani Onyedikachi Obi November 06, 2007 If the title of my piece is perceived as inappropriate or most uncharitable in certain quarters, then I must begin by tendering my most sincere regrets as it is certainly not aimed at casting aspersion on the competencies, integrity or judicial discretion of the learned counsels or distinguished members of the Kebbi State election Tribunal. I must also confess my utter ‘unlearnedness’ in comparison to the eminent jurists who delivered the rather incredible ruling of 20th October, 2007 that annuled the April 2007 Kebbi State Gubernatorial elections. NigerianNews Guest Column AMAECHI’S CONTROVERSIAL ADOPTION OF MR. TELE IKURU AS DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, LLD, SAN November 01, 2007 Another controversy has been thrown up by the decision of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 25th October, 2007 declaring Rotimi Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State. NigerianNews Guest Column October, 2007 WHY I DISAGREE WITH THE ORDER MADE BY THE SUPREME COURT IN AMAECHI V. OMEHIA ON THURSDAY, 25TH OCTOBER, 2007 by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, LLD, SAN October 29, 2007 The Supreme Court ordered on Thursday, 25th October, 2007 that Rotimi Amaechi should be sworn in as governor of Rivers State after the Court had voided the Governorship election of Celestine Omehia which took place on 14th April, 2007 on the ground that Rotimi Amaechi was wrongly excluded as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party after he had won the primary of that party, and that Celestine Omehia was wrongly substituted by the Peoples Democratic Party as the candidate of that party in the Governorship Election of Rivers State. NigerianNews Guest Column THE MURDER OF DELE GIWA, 21 YEARS AFTER: THE URGENT NEED TO RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, LLD, SAN October 20, 2007 Twenty-one (21) years ago, on Sunday 19th October, 1986, Dele Giwa, a foremost Nigerian journalist was assassinated by a parcel bomb at his residence at No. 25, Talabi Street, Off Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. He was the Editor-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of the Newswatch Magazine. Those responsible for his assassination have not been brought to book. They are still in the country with blood on their hands. NigerianNews Guest Column September, 2007 ACCELERATING A RETROGRESSION: LEGISLATIVE IGNORANCE AT WORK by Chiso Obiandu September 22, 2007 ‘The average Nigerian is just managing to exist’. That was a statement as a result of a digression in a formal discussion forum which caught me agape. That statement had no connection to the subject matter in view but was provoked by the ravaging poverty in the land. NigerianNews Guest Column ON THE FEMINIST PROFLIGACY: PATRICIA ETTEH'S BAD EXAMPLE FOR THE WOMEN'S FOLK by Folorunso Elegbede September 21, 2007 The cancerous effect of the scourge of corruption on the Nigerian body polity is highly debilitating. The Nigerian second name seems to be corruption as this is what differentiates Nigerians from other nationalities the world over. The history of corruption in Nigeria transcends all regimes and administrations of every individual who has been privileged to rule Nigeria. NigerianNews Guest Column YAR’ADUA’S 100 DAYS OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP by Folorunso Elegbede September 11, 2007 Leadership as a concept unarguably is the engine that drives all successful enterprise globally. A right leader chosen or elected with an enabling environment is sure to pilot the affairs of an organization to achieving its set objectives. The undoing of all undeveloped nations is that they have been unfortunate to have selfish and self serving leaders piloting their affairs. NigerianNews Guest Column August, 2007 THE CLOCK TICKS FOR PRESIDENT UMAR MUSA YAR’ADUA by Chiso Obiandu August 31, 2007 Democracy is a vital element for the development of a nation and the most appreciated system of government all-over the world. When you talk about democracy in this country, the Olusegun Obasanjo era takes the chunk of it. In the history of a nation, eight years of an era divided by forty six cannot give an insignificant result-especially for a nation with only a few positive landmarks. NigerianNews Guest Column DOLLARISATION OF THE NAIRA by Joseph A. Owumi, Sr., DBA August 20, 2007 I read with dismay, various articles on the announcement of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, regarding his proposed policy on the “*Strategic Agenda for the Naira”. The proposal as described by various newspapers across the country is a re-valuation, re-denomination, or decimalization of the Naira, by establishing a conversion rate of N1.25 to $1.00 USD come August 2008. NigerianNews Guest Column* Suffering in the midst of plenty: The dilemma of Conoil pensioners. by Oluwasegun Ajayi August 16, 2007 Colton once said that a man who will not permit his wealth to do any good to others while he is living, prevents it from doing good to himself when he is dead. Not everyone can be rich but everybody should be able to afford what he or she needs. A man is rich not because he is better than his neighbour but because God in his infinite mercy granted him the grace to be rich. Many people will disagree with Beecher that, no man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. NigerianNews Guest Column Burden of an Unpassing Past by Anthony A Kila August 15, 2007 There is a consensus in the corporate world that Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular, is the market of the future. Most researchers and investors agree that Nigerians, for example, just need to be informed about the existence and quality of certain goods and services and demands will come from individuals and private organisations. NigerianNews Guest Column April, 2007 OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ALHAJI UMARU YAR’ADUA by Sesan Bello May 29, 2007 Today, it gladdens my heart to see someone of your calibre assume the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria even in the light of huge campaigns mounted against your electoral victory by both treacherous and honest democrats. Now, it is all over, our nation needs to move forward, and I say, Congratulations… Welcome on- board. NigerianNews Guest Column MARCHING US TO THE LAND by Sesan Bello May 03, 2007 Increasing demands for good governance in Nigeria has, no doubt, pushed political analysis and commentaries to the limit. But a rather disappointing aspect of it is its recurrent failure in helping to shape up and refine opinions where they matter most. Rather, what people offer are so bursting with absurdities and ambiguities that the listening electorates sometimes become confused while justifying diverse opinions they’ve got to struggle with. NigerianNews Guest Column TRANSITION ON POOLS OF BLOOD: NIGERIAN WOMEN SHOULD PROTEST MASS KILLINGS by Chinyere Ojide April 10, 2007 Once upon a time, Liberia became one of the bloodiest African countries from the era of Samuel Doe to that of Charles Tailor. Human life became cheaper than that of chicken and women and children were the ultimate passive victims because a family who had the father or the able bodied men butchered out of existence was finished. Liberian political juntas were too bloody that even women had to protest. NigerianNews Guest Column ATIKU ABUBAKAR, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND COURT JUDGMENTS by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, LLD, SAN April 08, 2007 Certainly, the 2007 General Elections are entering an unusual quagmire. Suddenly, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) appears to have become the legal adviser to Atiku Abubakar by the way the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been reacting to court judgments affecting Atiku Abubakar. NigerianNews Guest Column \| Related Issue Continuity in Government by George O. A. Uwaifo April 08, 2007 The general elections are just a few days away and surprisingly, the magnitude of the rancor and confusion in our political atmosphere is overwhelming. A lot of pending court cases with a string of appeals and contra-appeals as well as strong verbal exchanges between major political candidates and the federal government. NigerianNews Guest Column March, 2007 A Chance to Rise and Shine by Anthony A Kila March 01, 2007 Contrary to what many people believe and imagine in Nigeria, partly because of their need to project their hopes and aspirations for a better life outside a country that tends to only limit and disappoint them and partly due to the flamboyant life many of our fellow Diasporans led when they go back home on holiday, we all know life is very demanding in the West and I know Nigerians are very busy people abroad. I therefore wish to sincerely thank you all Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, and our Friends for taking the time to be with us here today. NigerianNews Guest Column February, 2007 NIGERIA’S POLITICAL LEXICON; WORDS OR PHRASES YOU NEED TO KNOW TO UNDERSTAND NIGERIAN POLITICS AND POLITICIANS. by Ibiyinka Solarin February 01, 2007 This article assumes you wish to understand the ways of Nigerian politics. Right? The following are some of the words, concepts and phrases you need to know, so you do not become totally confused in trying to understand Nigerian politics and process NigerianNews Guest Column January, 2007 DELAYING THE KEBBI 2007 BUDGET: A CALL FOR CONCERN by Musa Abdullahi Mai-Gwandu January 10