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Guest Columnist: Chris Okotie The year 1914 has a dual significance for the world and Nigeria. For the world because it marked the beginning of the First World War and for our nation because it was the year of the amalgamation of the Colony of Lagos with the Protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria to form one Nigeria as we are today. We may not know how much importance the world attaches to a World War that is fast vanishing in our memory, but Nigerians do recognise that 1914 was the year of our “creation” as a country by the British colonial masters. The name Nigeria was suggested by Flora Shaw, mistress of our first Governor-General, Lord Frederick Lugard, in 1898.  Flora of course would later become Lugard’s wife. Already, to celebrate this milestone in January next year, the Federal Government has set up a committee to coordinate what promises to be a huge event. A centenary in the life of any nation is a major landmark. The fact that...

Global Finance By Odilim Basil Enwegbara. Email & Tel: odilim.enwegbara@thisdaylive.com,  Financial vandalism is as serious a crime as homicide Until recently, public outcries that government agencies have been mismanaging the revenues they generated have been received as fallacious. And because most past legislative investigations into these allegations have ended up compromised, those carrying on this act seem to believe to have mastered how to circumvent the law. So, when the House of Representatives November last year directed its Finance Committee to thoroughly investigate federal revenue generating agencies, understandably, it was never taken seriously. And that the agencies went fully unprepared only demonstrated a mindset for business as usual. By the time they discovered they were setup; that rather than business as usual, it was more of lynching, most of them were already humiliated by these no-nonsense committee membe...

Policy & Execution By Emmanuel Uduaghan At the investiture of my administration in 2007 we articulated a three-point agenda: Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructure Development. At the core of this agenda is the attainment of economic growth that will guarantee a peaceful, stable and safe atmosphere in Delta State. The entrenched and endemic abuse of basic rights and freedom under the military culminated in bottled up agitations, tension and pent-up emotions, especially in the Niger Delta where agitations for control of natural resources graduated into criminal activities.      Like all governors in the Niger Delta, this was one complex challenge I met upon assumption of office. There were other problems confronting the young administration ranging from political conflicts, to violent youth conflicts, armed insurgents, to ethnic rivalry amongst the various ethnic groups in Delta State....

Rethinking Peace and Development Policy & Execution By Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi Shortly after the fall of the Berlin wall the then United Nations Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, drew the world’s attention to the need for a new paradigm in international policy making: there is no peace without development and there is no development without peace. It is not likely that peace can be maintained in the longer term without sustainable development. Similarly, it is unlikely that sustainable development can take place in a climate dominated by war, crises and the preparations for war. In order to assess the prospects for both peace and sustainable development, we must take into account the broad global trends of our time namely political, socio-economic and cultural. Nigeria is one of Africa’s most pivotal countries and globally considered as a strategic ally by most countries. The inter...

This article concludes with a brazen quote about Nigeria's yawning inequality problem. In essence, "Nigeria is fast becoming a country in which the poor cannot sleep because they are hungry and the rich cannot sleep because the poor are awake.." Kayode Komolafe For any comments on this write-up please contact the author at kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com In many respects, the public presentation of two books in honour of Professor Bolaji Akinyemi last week in Lagos provided those who attended the occasion the opportunity to look back into episodes and policies in our recent history. The organisers of the event, The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), achieved their aim of making it an intellectual feast. It was a fulfillment of a promise made during the 70th birthday of Akinyemi last year. The publications  - Perspectives on Nigeria’s National & External Relations: Essays in Honour of Professor A. Bolaji...

    Edifying Elucidations By Okey Ikechukwu.  Contact him via email, okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com An aggrieved citizen who once played host to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State erupted thus: “Your Excellency, I am sorry to say that you have no right to do this to me. I have already said that you are welcome, so you cannot say that I am not happy to see you.  But it is my duty to be honest with you as a friend.  If others are afraid of you I am not.  Mr. Governor, you are spoiling the office of governor in this our Anambra State.  Others have held the position before you, so there are people who can give you ‘expo’ if you don't know how to be a ‘real’ governor. I consider it an act of wickedness that you should allow me to diligently tell all my friends that you are visiting me today, only for you to sneak in here like a houseboy who came to pick charcoal from the fireplace of a k...

Font Size:  a  /  A By Dele Momodu Dear Sir, let me start by expressing my deepest sympathy at the ordeal our Police men and women face in the course of their duties in Nigeria. I knew you to be one of our finest officers during a brief encounter I had with you at the Louis Edet House in Abuja about four years ago. At that time, you were of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police but I was very impressed by your charisma and carriage. You did not bear the mien of a typical Nigerian Police officer. You spoke eloquently and intelligently. I was happy when your name was announced as the Inspector-General by President Goodluck Jonathan. But I was also sad at the same time. The reason was very simple. I had anticipated that, despite your vast experience, knowledge, and competence, you were going to be bogged down by excessive officialdom and our uncommon bureaucratic fiasco. The big men of power would never allow you control your own budget. They know where the fat...