Bro Ogbonna will continue LEAVING IN PEACE

By Ezechiogbe uche C.

Ogbonna Amadi

  the former local government Chairman of ifako/Ijaye LGA, in the late/early eighties/ninties, made the front page of the Vanguard newspaper, that  I realised have been leaving, sharing, talking with a living legend. through out sourjourn which several times made leave outside Lagos, whenever we still meet he will always ask about my family welfare and ask me to come visit, incidentally the last time i visited about 4-5yrs ago, he was still leaving in the same compound...

In life there are people you continue wishing you had visited yesterday but our schedules never really allow us, when things like this happen you filled with questions and questions, why, why  and  why did you miss the last appointment. His asthma

What use is flattery to pigs?

By The Daily Times

“Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver; and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings” - ---Edmund Burke

It has always been an important duty of society to give recognition to its members for noteworthy achievements geared towards the upliftment of that society. The necessity of this action is premised upon the age-long moral duty to reward good and punish evil, which serves to maintain order and discipline within that society. It creates a working model for citizens and helps redefine their role in that society; but more importantly it is an indicant of how other societies would view it. So it becomes very important to confer only deserving citizens with honors and bestow titles upon only worthy achievers whose impact upon the development of that society is unquestionable.

When names like George Washington, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein are mentioned as contributors to American history, the question marks do not arise for their impact not only pervaded around the country but well into other continents. Their feats are not shrouded in nepotistic veils or individual self-aggrandisement but were borne out of an altruistic will to better society and improve upon the lives of

The past and the present

By The Daily Times

I lie awake now, wondering where it all went.

I used to hear the national anthem played so proudly on the radio stations as we all sang along, nurturing smiles in our hearts that automatically lit our faces.

I remember how safe it was to walk the streets at night, telling stories of heroes past unsung. Now all we do is hide behind tall fences and lament about youths and the unemployed who have decided to take justice into their hands.

I remember how brandishing weapons were frowned upon unless a state of emergency was declared. Sadly, those days are long gone.

I remember playful kids lining the streets making dishes with plants we could find in make shift pots of old tins.

Not too long ago, playing catch and hide and seek were the standard playtime routine. If I had kids now, I wouldn't let them play in the sand right outside my yard, nor will I let them stay out playing catch for the fear that I just might get a ransom call later that day to come fetch them at a fee. 

I remember reading literature that informed me about my rich heritage; the great Jaja of

Our rules of the game

By The Daily Times

It is generally said that women have the last say in most arguments. This is true because anything we (men) say starts another one. However, we must be allowed to give our own little rules. These rules are the content of this article.

Note that they are all numbered 1.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes, and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think

Between a resilient banking sector and good corporate governance

By Businessday Newspapers

Central Bank Head Office Abuja

When the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, embarked on reformation of the Nigerian banking sector in 2004/2005, the emphasis then seem to depend totally on how capitalised each of the participating banks were. As at then, any of the banks that could raise its share capital to a minimum baseline of N25 billionwas entitled to continue operations within the Nigerian environment.

Among the successful banks that participated in what was called "cherry picking" were banks like Union Bank plc and Intercontinental Bank plc. However less than five years after the so called re-capitalisation agenda, some of the surviving banks found themselves parading depleted share capital profiles. As at today the erstwhile mega banks are on the verge of being acquired by others. It is no longer a secret that some of the banks, which were bailed out by the Central Bank of Nigeria in the year 2010 are on the verge of being sold to interested investors.

What could have happened to the recently 'consolidated' banking sector which only recently was awash with billions of naira injected into the system by the investing public? Nigerians, and foreigners alike, confidently bought into the various public offers at that

Inauguration Address by- Goodluck Jonathan

By Alice

Inauguration Address by

His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

PROTOCOL

1.          My Dear Compatriots, I stand in humble gratitude to you, this day, having just sworn to the oath of office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of our great nation.

2.          I thank you all, fellow citizens, for the trust and confidence, which you have demonstrated through the power of your vote. I want to assure you, that I will do my utmost at all times, to continue to deserve your trust.  

3.          I would like to specially acknowledge the presence in our midst today, of Brother Heads of State and Government, who have come to share this joyous moment with us.  Your Excellencies, I thank you for your solidarity.  I also wish to express my gratitude, to the Representatives of Heads of State and Government who are here with us.  My appreciation also goes to the chairperson of the African Union and other world leaders, our development partners, and all our

The NYSC is Here to Stay

By GEJ-FB Notes

NYSC

As has become my habit, I took time to read your comments on this page and noticed that a number of you called for the proscription of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The deaths of members of the NYSC during the post-election violence is condemnable and we need to prevent a reoccurrence, but in doing that, there should be an awareness that the NYSC is a force for good and we must never sacrifice what is good for what is convenient for the moment. Leadership is about taking in the big picture.

The NYSC scheme was birthed by the Gowon administration as a means of enhancing Nigeria’s unity by making Nigeria’s youths spend a period of sacrificial living in parts of the country outside the immediate location in which they were raised. And this scheme is to a large extent achieving its purpose.

We need more of anything that will build unity in Nigeria and it is not possible to build unity without unifying vehicles. The NYSC like the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force and Police are unifying vehicles.These vehicles serve their purpose because they endure trying times seeing as the core value behind their creation is sacrifice.

Sowing Into the Future

By GEJ-FB Notes

Some of you may recall that on the 20th of April, 2010, the National Economic Council under my leadership approved the setting up of a National Sovereign Wealth Fund to secure Nigeria’s future growth. It was further approved that $1 billion be set aside for the fund as seed money.Today, I am deeply pleased that the National Assembly passed the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill into law on the 17th of May, 2011 and I thank our Federal Legislators for this patriotic act.

Many of you may have heard about this fund and wonder what it is. Since it is meant for you, I will now take time to explain what this fund is and how it applies to you the Nigerian citizen.The Sovereign Wealth Fund is a vehicle for growth that this administration conceived of to secure additional capital for growing Nigeria’s infrastructure and putting aside money for the rainy day so that future generations will always have something to fall back on in the event that revenues are impacted by market forces which have been known to be volatile.

Last year, Nigeria was fortunate to have engaged in prudent spending which enabled us survive the world economic recession of 2010

Growing our GDP by Investing in Citizens

By GEJ- Facebook

During the campaigns, one of the things I noticed in my tours all over Nigeria is the income disparity amongst the geo-political zones. I am not comfortable with disparity and I am committed to use every means possible to change the situation.

Now I requested for and studied data on the income disparity amongst our zones and was able to determine that the zones with the highest level of education have the highest GDP and Per Capita Income and it was therefore a no brainer that the key to upward mobility in income is education.

This is the reason why I have focused on education almost to the point of obsession.

Though it may take time, I see the income disparity closing because of the investments we are making in education that will see EVERY state have at least ONE federal university. Now we are not just focusing on tertiary education or even conventional education. This administration is also in the process of building over a hundred model schools specifically targeted at the itinerant scholars commonly referred to as Almajiri. This is even as we are poised to spend an unprecedented amount this year to expand our public schools