National cake and ‘millionaire voters’ club’

PAUL ARHEWE
(Published 30/06/2011)

The phrase ‘millionaire club of voters’ may not be a familiar term to some observers of happenings in our local politics. Apparently, it is one of the latest inputs in Nigerian political lexicon, as its emergence is linked to the last April general elections. What interpretation would you give to the above phrase? Probably, some people may decipher it as a club of rich electorate congregating to appoint politicians of their choice.

Those who followed this answer path will be astonished they are far from its connotation. When Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State visited President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja recently, he went there to remind the Nigerian leader that his state is among those that gave him at least a million votes; wanting an assurance that Plateau would get its share of the national cake. Last week he brought back the good tidings to his subjects in Pankshin, using it to assuage and boost their optimism for fair treatment from the present administration. In his words, “I was with the president at the Villa and I told him that this time around, Plateau must get its own share of the national cake because we joined the millionaire club of voters.”

Boko Haram and our porous security network

PAUL ARHEWE 23/06/2011 03:20:00

As a reporter on the foreign beat over the years, whenever there is any bomb blast in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq, this never takes the lead position in the arrangement of my stories. Why you may ask? There is a 90 percent probability that a bomb would be detonated in the aforementioned countries on a daily basis given the restiveness and the well sophisticated network of al-Qaeda in this region.

But for countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom, and others which Nigeria used to belong, it is very unusual to witness a single blast, and if by error of omission or commission one goes off usually they lead in screaming headlines. To say the spate of bombings in parts of northern Nigeria is out of hand would be an understatement. Last Thursday’s attack in Abuja Police Headquarters and the subsequent detonation of another in Borno is a vivid signal that the Boko Haram sect has declared war on Nigeria.

Abracadabra and Nigerian war against corruption

By Paul Arhewe 
Many see efforts against curbing corruption in the country as an exercise in futility, as our so called leaders are either the major culprits or they are known to have penchant for shedding their cronies from facing corruption charges. Past Nigerian governments have formulated policies and built in place institutions to combat corruption in the country, but we seem to be going round the circle with no concrete results to show for this. One major factor that has obstructed past efforts in eliminating this monster is adduced to be government’s insincerity and unwillingness to provide full support for this course.

Mr President, one year is too long a time

PAUL ARHEWE
(Published 01/06/2011)

Overwhelmingly Nigerians cast their votes for him; even in the stronghold of the opposition, he clinched the mandate to steer the affairs of Africa’s most populous country for four years. A country that is bedevilled with high poverty amidst abundant natural resources; where corruption has become another nomenclature, by which its offspring is being stereotyped.
For sure, the task ahead is daunting despite this enviable position he has mounted. President Goodluck Jonathan, who was sworn in on Sunday after emerging winner in April 2011 election, to many, is seen as a signature of God; a man whose name has mirrored and showcased the great destiny witnessed so far, and that ahead of him. Jonathan, no doubt, has won the hearts of many in the country, as reflected in the election generally recognised as one of the freest and fairest in Nigeria, despite the turmoil that almost discoloured this laudable attainment.

2011 elections: Politicians and social network media

By Paul Arhewe, Online Editor (Published June 1, 2011)

Before now, social network sites are seen as majorly an effective means of interacting and building relationships across different racial groups beyond countries’ borders. Also, they are veritable tools for business to business (B2B) networking or business to customers (B2C) interactions. However, their values are now been widely utilised by politicians for wooing electorate and used as means for election campaigns to gain advantage over opponents.
There are ample of opportunities for political candidates and office holders alike in the use of social media, especially in contemporary politicking across the globe.

Making the perpetrators pay for their uprisings

By PAUL ARHEWE 25/05/2011 00:57:00

The spate of political and religious violence in the country in recent times actually calls for concern, even as carnages from such uprising keep mounting and have left many Nigerians families in sorrow. Many incidences in northern parts with recurring toll in places like Plateau, Borno and Bauchi where the proclivity for killing is taking an unprecedented dimension require more daring and drastic measures. Our government has continued to set up committees upon committees to probe past uprisings without much remedy to arrest the growing monstrous situation.

Cancelled US DV -2012 results:Cries of 22,000 selectees

By Paul Arhewe, Online Editor

The hopes of many people world- wide that had nursed the dream to travel to God’s Own Country next year through the visa lottery programme were dashed last week as the United States government announced the invalidation of the released results due to computer glitches. About 22,000 entrants who were notified to proceed to the next level of the exercise would have to forfeit that opportunity, as the American government says the process for selecting them was neither fair nor randomly carried out.
The US Diversity Immigrant Visa programme began in 1994. The annual programme gives skilled and educated adults from selected countries across the globe the opportunity to travel to America on a work visa.

After Fashola, who is ACN’s next Joker?

PAUL ARHEWE 11/05/2011 01:05:00

The stronghold of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties, was tightened during the last general polls, as the ‘progressives’ have successfully captured all, but one of south western states.
Except for Ondo State currently controlled by the Labour Party government, the Awoist styled party with a commanding force in Lagos; the Centre of Excellence, is a major thorn the ruling party will love to overpower in the region during another balloting exercise, certainly for 2015. In Lagos state, the incumbent and governor-elect, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) would, by 2015, complete his second term and ACN would be left to seek for a viable replacement: The question is; who would the party use to dazzle the electorate after Fashola?

Do foreign media really see any good in Nigeria?

By PAUL ARHEWE 05/05/2011 01:07:00

The April elections are over, leaving behind trails of woes and applauses. While winners are still in celebrative mood, those bad losers are either seeking avenues for redress or still attending to their defeats.
Nevertheless, we will forever remember the distasteful event that underscores the electoral exercise where many lives were inhumanly snuffed out, despite the fact that the polls were adjudged to be the most transparent and fairest Nigeria has conducted in decades. Many families are left in a lugubrious state from the residual of this deadly mayhem. From observation, foreign media have, in no small measure, contributed in abetting divisive outburst through their pattern of reportage and in the manner in which they harp continuously on the flimsiest of brouhaha in Nigeria until they snowball into a conflagrated quagmire.

How U.S got Bin Laden

Paul Arhewe

The near decade hunt for American most wanted terrorist and mastermind of the September 11, 2001 Twin tower bombings in New York came to an end early yesterday when Osama bin Laden was killed by US troops through a helicopter fire-fight in a commando fashion.
US intelligence got the information in August last year that Bin Laden was holed up in a high-walled compound in Abbottabad, some 50 miles northeast of Islamabad. How bin Laden was able to reside in posh vicinity fortified with Pakistani military officers is still a mystery.
A U.S. official said a key clue to tracking bin Laden down was learning the name of a trusted courier, which led U.S. intelligence to the compound raided on Sunday. After noting the compound had few electronic links to the outside world - and incinerated its trash, rather than putting it out to be picked up - Obama gave the go-ahead last week for a helicopter raid into the compound.