The train towards our current dilemma of mediocrity and a mentality that abhors progress started in 1957 when the progressive camp of Nigerians asked for independence. The North opposed it for primordial reasons and as a consequence delayed independence for another 3 years. Since then, the line between the progressives who favour radical revolutionary change and those who prefer the unprogressive status quo has increasingly become manifest. Professor Chukwuma Soludo is no doubt a victim of the unprogressive camp, that has historically abhorred ambition, creativity and change. This same group has ensured by blocking any move towards true federalism, that the rest of Nigeria continues at their own pace

Nigeria presents a challenge which only a dynamic, determined, courageous, and progressive thinker can solve. But sectional ethnic interests which has remained in conflict with each other has continued to muzzle any such dynamic individuals geared towards radical change. It has resulted in mediocrity, and encouraged the resort to witch hunting those who ordinarily would be celebrated in other climes. It would thus be difficult to separate the ongoing Professor Chukwuma Soludo saga from the politics of a sectional interest group and political cabal. Professor Soludo is Nigeria’s equivalent of the legendary Alan Greenspan, America‘s erstwhile and very successful Governor of the Bank of America. Against a massive campaign by interest groups determined to maintain the status quo, he courageously oversaw the recapitalization of Banks which ended an era of weak and frequently failing banks engaged in “corporate 419” as they frequently made off with depositors funds.

He also among other critical reforms, re-organised the Nigerian security printing and minting which for the first time in its history succeeded in printing all currency locally. The sum total of his banking reforms has heralded an era of unbelievable confidence in the financial sector which has created an unprecedented boom in stocks and shares and stabilised the exchange rates of the Naira against other international currencies. His style of leadership has brought a professionalism, talent and creativity rarely seen in our clime.

His recent announcement of a strategic agenda for the Naira which proposes to bring the Naira at par with the dollar, has predictably brought out all shades and manner of vultures ready to sink their talons into the heart of an acknowledged progressive thinker and reformer. Some of them have in the process sought to remind us, in a bid to destroy his legacy out of both jealousy and sectional witch hunting, that neither the recapitalization nor the currency redenomination are originally his ideas. Isn’t it revealing that those who opposed both the recapitalization and proposed redenomination are now telling us the ideas are not originally his? No doubt because they loath the success of the recapitalization and are afraid of the potential success of the redenomination exercise. This indeed is enough proof of their intentions

Nigerians have never lacked any ideas on how to effect positive change and move the nation forward. What has always lacked is the political will and courage to implement them. In the same vein, the banking reforms necessary to overhaul the banking system was never a secret, what lacked as always was someone with the professionalism, courage and zeal to damn the odds and carry it through and professor Soludo happened to be that man.

Professor Soludo is human and could have made mistakes, but that cannot and should not take away the fact that he is a daring, committed and determined professional who has worked tirelessly for the benefit of an ungrateful nation. What i see in the present attempts to rubbish and humiliate him for daring to propose bold new initiatives for the Naira is the same penchant that has seen us destroying achievers and exalting mediocrity which has contributed in grounding us in perpetual poverty.

The consequences of Nigeria’s penchant for rubbishing talent and professionalism would result in increasing brain drain, and discourage those who have positive ideas from initiating them. It is a safe bet, that the interest groups on Soludo’s trail are already preparing someone from their ethnic group to take his job, not out of merit, but out of a tragic ethnic rat race, and primitive quest for domination which is responsible for the legacy of Nigeria’s historical misrule and arrested development.

Rioting broke out yesterday in the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki as Nigerians, mainly young demonstrators, confronted the Police in that country after the death of a Nigerian immigrant.Greek television showed footage of dozens of smashed windows and several damaged cars. Police said the victim, whose name has not been made public, had been selling CDs and DVDs illegally, and that he jumped from the first floor of a cafeteria to escape a police inspection. His injuries were fatal and he died on the spot.

The potential role of the tourism sector as a major instrument for socio-economic development cannot be overemphasized. These potentials cannot be realised unless our numerous tourist attractions are well developed, packed and promoted, with diligent attention to security and welfare of visitors. Nigeria Tourism Official web site is set to serve as the mouth piece of stakeholders in the pushing for positive changes in this all-important sector. You are therefore, invited to be part of this exciting development

Beauty in Diversity

Besides the many natural features of Nigeria, the cultural assets of the nation are of universal recognition. The richness and diversity of the Nigerian culture is a manifestation of the socio-cultural differences of the over 250 ethnic groups that inhabit the land for ages. These, couple with hospitality of the over 110 million people, make Nigeria one of the richly endowed potential tourist destinations in the globe.
No matter your interest, Nigeria has something for you to explore. From sandy beaches, pepper-soups, unspoilt wild-life parks to addictive Afro-beats music; it is unforgetable experience.


Nigeria has abundant physical attractions ranging from hills, waterfalls, springs, lakes and mountains across the lenght and breadth of the Country.

These have been created by ingenuity of Nigerians to provide relaxtion. Examples include Obudu Ranch, Whispering Palms, Gembu Resort, Chammah Park and Rayfield Resort.

The cultural assests of Nigeria are among the most fascinating in Africa, some of which include the Eyo in Lagos, Osun Oshogbo and Durbar.

Save the commemorative postal stamps that were unveiled by the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), the 30th anniversary of Africa’s biggest cultural fiesta went unsung. Perhaps, the declining fortunes of the national theatre and the uncertainty surrounding its current status were responsible for the low-key ceremony.
However, the reasons that caused the declining fortunes of the theatre ought to be fully appreciated in order to see how best this national patrimony could be salvaged. For more than 15 years, the theatre’s structure has been in decay due largely to official neglect and the failure to follow the recommendations of the Bulgarian designers regarding the cooling system, water supply and guarding against erosion within the expansive complex. Inadequacy of funds and official ineptitude prevented the theatre from being run as prescribed by its designers.
Consequently, the roof started leaking, the central cooling system broke down, a part of the basement started sinking, the bridge linking the Ijora highway caved in. Since 1992 after the disastrous screening of Aiye, the popular film by the late Hubert Ogunde, in which two people died in a stampede to gain entry, the 2,500-seater main hall has remained virtually abandoned. Power failure often shuts down activities and keeps the glow off the crown of the theatre, which was designed to resemble a soldier’s cap. In essence, the national theatre has been a monument in decline.
The bitter reality is that in its present state of decay, the national theatre serves no purpose to the nation’s image or the arts community. If capable private investors are seen to have emerged out of a transparent bidding exercise, with verifiable asset base, it will be counterproductive not to allow the national theatre a new lease of life.
A lifeline beyond the purview of government is an appropriate step to rescue the monument from further decay. The glaring neglect over the years has demonstrated that the government is unwilling to preserve the complex for its symbolic value as a national heritage that should not be treated as a profit-making enterprise. The salvation of the national theatre, therefore, lies in the hands of competent private

Former Governor of Bayelsa state, Diepreye Alamiyeseigha ought by now to have gone down in history as the first Governor in Nigeria's Fourth Republic to be sentenced to jail on the grounds of corrupt practices. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, by the court of Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of the Federal High Court of Lagos, following a protracted trial and his admission of guilt in a 25-count charge. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of six of his companies, eleven houses at home and abroad and sums of money totalling about N600 million.

But because the embattled Governor had already served out the term of his imprisonment in EFCC custody, he is already a free man. Under normal circumstances, Alamiyeseigha, who before now had jumped bail in England in a money laundering case - he says the British authorities organized his escape, and those ones are diplomatically silent (!), should be generally promoted and cited across Nigeria as a persona non grata, as a man who has fallen from grace to grass, as a living symbol of the fate that awaits corrupt leaders and a living lesson to all serving Governors and public officials.

But here in Nigeria, Alamiyeseigha's trial and conviction have ended up as a farce and a sorry anti-climax. Whatever moral lesson that should be learnt from his trial and humiliation have been blunted by various attempts to glorify him. Since his release from prison custody, he has been treated like a hero. Concerned Bayelsans have had to raise funds for his treatment abroad in a curious show of support and solidarity. Spritualists reportedly organised thanksgiving prayer sessions to celebrate his return from prison while well-wishers besieged his home in Ikeja, GRA, Lagos, to pay homage. Alami is now on his way back to Dubai where the authorities only a few weeks ago, diplomatically shoehorned him out of their hospitals, not wanting to be seen to be supporting a discredited Nigerian leader. The former Governor has also been received in audience by President Umaru Yar'Adua at the Presidential Villa in Abuja where he reportedly was recruited as a kind of Honorary Special Adviser to the Federal Government on Niger Delta matters.
It is not impossible that a Presidential jet was sent to Lagos to take Alamiyeseigha to Abuja, and that he traveled to the Villa in a Presidential convoy. He must have walked majestically on the grounds of the Presidential Villa, decked out in his Niger Delta regalia, complete with cap and walking stick, and resource control swagger, had quality audience with the President, enjoyed the pleasure of Presidential lunch.
This is the same man who only a week earlier was at the mercy of prison warders at the Ikoyi prison and EFCC officials who treated him like a common criminal. The court found him guilty of using public funds to set up companies and a property portfolio, collecting kickbacks from contractors, and using his position to amass odious wealth. A week later, the same man was being treated by both the Presidency and a section of the public as if he was a prisoner of conscience and a victim of the Nigerian state. He has even been called the man with the solution to the Niger Delta crisis.
From EFCC custody to the Presidential Villa as guest and Honorary Adviser, former Governor Alamiyeseigha must be feeling triumphant. He does not feel that he has been disgraced, and when he says he is a victim of the machinations of the Obasanjo government, he gets a good audience. This development is most unfortunate. It deals a big blow to whatever positive signal may have been represented by his conviction in court. The work of the court of Justice Mohammed Shuaibu has been short-circuited by politicians acting outside the court of law. When the President holds audience with a convicted man, with such a historically significant burden, and receives him with so much ceremony, he is unwittingly rubbishing the cause of justice.
Don't doubt this: the day Alamiyeseigha returns to Bayelsa, there will be dancing in the streets from Yenagoa to Wilberforce Island, congratulatory messages in the media, a 21-gun salute by the combined forces of ethnic militants and kidnappers of the Niger Delta., and the media so complicit in this matter will report it all with relish and flourish. This is the sad thing about our country: on every score, in every matter, we find it so expedient to strike the recursive note.

The indecent act of men of the Nigerian Police was freely displayed last week at Maryland bus stop in ikeja lAGOS.

The police at Maryland are fond of waiting to see any young man with a flashy car driving they will suddenly carry there guns to point at the car , sometimes they chase these unsuspecting drivers with a desperate measure of calculation that one will think they have caught a criminal.

I happeneed to witness these particular case on friday when a young guy was driving a flashy sports car, and the police stopped him for a search.They searched and found out that his papers were compleate and no offense was traced to him or his car.

But the manner at wish they displayed there guns numbering about 10 policemen just to stop a car was disgracing and embarassing.

Please the Police in Maryland should be more professional in there conduct.