‘State of emergency timely, but not sweeping enough’

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

Professor Jubril Aminu was Minister of Education and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources respectively, from 1989 to 1999. A professor of Cardiology and one-time Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Aminu was elected, senator of the Federal Republic, representing Adamawa Central between 2003 and 2011. He was also Nigerian Ambassador to the USA from 1999 to 2003.  In this bare – knuckle interview with LINUS OBOGO, Assistant Editor, Aminu speaks on the political crisis in his home state, Adamawa, his regrets, the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, and sundry issues.

Jonathan’s undoing is his bad advisers and tribesmen –Ex-Presidential candidate Bashir Tofa

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

 

Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa is a businessman and politician. He was the National Republican Convention presidential candidate in the botched June 12, 1993 presidential election. Ahead of June 12 anniversary next Wednesday, Tofa spoke with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO and reflected on the date, May 29 and October 1, and concluded that he would rather that Nigeria sticks with the Independence Day as Democracy Day. He also faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, arguing that his decision was rather hasty, among other issues.

Excerpts:

How I’m tortured by telephone -Sen. Chris Anyanwu

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

Senator Chris Anyanwu is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy. She represents Imo East Senatorial Zone of Imo State on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). An advocate of effective representation, she is of the view that no representation is worth it when the doors are shut out on those who elected you. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, in Abuja, Anyanwu spoke on APGA, politics of Imo State as well as the secrets of her youthful looks. Excerpts:

Our battles with the virus, by Benue people living with HIV/AIDS

 

Written by Linus Obogo, assistant Editor

 

Posted by: Linus Obogo, in Special Report April 27, 2013

 

The sea of heads, with women constituting a preponderance at the vast concourse of the AIDS Preventive Initiative of Nigeria (APIN) complex, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State, tells a glum story, a story of a state ambushed by a debilitating scourge.
A conjectural estimate put the figure at well over 800 persons- men, women and children. On this day, April 9th, this gathering reportedly paled significantly against the previous days’ figure put at about 1,000 of People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), who daily throng the complex from Monday to Friday, for counselling and treatment.

Nothing can Stop the Merger – Senator Hanga

"In case I die, I have told my Son to give the CPC Certificate to Tinubu-Senator Hanga (CPC). “In Nigeria today, we know that the strongest opposition party is the ACN, which is why I told my son that if I die any moment, he should give the certificate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to surrender to INEC for the purpose of forming a merger. The merger is already a reality and nobody can stop it now, not even the PDP” – Senator Hanga

Senator Rufai Hanga was pioneer National Chairman of the Congress for Progress Change (CPC). He represented Kano Central Senatorial Zone from 2003 to 2007. A businessman and administrator with over 25 years in the corporate world, Hanga talks of the commitment and determination of his party to ensure that the proposed merger plan with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), among other parties, becomes a reality ahead of 2015. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, he also faults President Goodluck Jonathan’s performance, describing him as ‘Baba Slumber’.

Let’s not allow things to get worse than they are now –Ikimi

By Linus obogo, Assistant Editor

Chief Tom Ikimi is a consummate architect and politician. He was elected first National Chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the two political parties in the botched third republic in 1990. Ikimi was Special Adviser to the late head of state, General Sani Abacha in February 1994 and later Foreign Affairs Minister from 1995 to July 1998. He was also a founding and Board of Trustees member of the then All Peoples Party (APP); and following his de-registeration from the PDP, Ikimi co-founded the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), a rallying platform on which the alleged third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was swiftly nipped in the bud. He spoke with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, on the rescue mission of the All Progressives Congress (APC); why INEC Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega, must steer clear of the obvious minefield being laid in his path ahead of 2015. Excerpts:

Jonathan’s government’s failure has provided an ideology for APC –Senator Kanti Bello

By Linus Obogo, Assistant

Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello represented Katsina North Senatorial Zone from 2003 to 2011. Known for his bluntness, he had caused a stir in the senate during the ministerial screening when he accused former Information Minister Dora Akunyili of cooking for ex-First Lady Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. Recently, he had sensationally debunked the claims of the Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu of a purported pact President Goodluck Jonathan signed with the governors of the PDP over 2015 presidency.

In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, Kanti Bello spoke on what he described as Jonathan’s leadership ineptitude, why Nigerians should rally round the emerging All Progressive Congress to get the country out of the woods.

Excerpts: