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Having gone through the dictionary to check the word "ineffectual buffoon", I cant help but to weep for my country. A worthless fool? Read:  More than 30 years ago, a young general swept to power in the fifth of Nigeria’s military coups since independence in 1960. The country he inherited was a mess: bled dry by pilfering politicians within and hammered by falling oil prices without. Last year that general, Muhammadu Buhari, became president again—this time in a democratic vote. The problems he has inherited are almost identical. So are many of his responses. In the eight months since Mr Buhari arrived at Aso Rock, the presidential digs, the homicidal jihadists of Boko Haram have been pushed back into the bush along Nigeria’s borders. The government has cracked down on corruption, which had flourished under the previous president, Goodluck Jonathan, an ineffectual buffoon who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity. Lai Mohammed, a

A full panel of Nigeria’s Supreme Court of Nigeria today in Abuja sacked the entire contingent of senators and members of the House of Representatives from Anambra State. The decision swept away a host of lawmakers from Anambra State who were illegally foisted on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan. The court’s ruling ended the senatorial tenure of former Aviation Minister and first term senator, Stella Oduah, and aborted the legislative career of former presidential aide, Andy Uba. Also affected are members of the House of Representatives elected on the ticket of the PDP. Chris Uba, younger brother to Mr. Andy Uba, and Prince Emeka are expected to take over seats vacated by Mr. Andy Uba and Stella Oduah respectively. Former Senator Annie Okonkwo is in line to represent the PDP in a forthcoming election to fill a senatorial seat held by Uche Ekwunife who was sacked last December by the Court of Appeal. Toda

President John Dramani Mahama has said the latest Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) gives a clear indication that the nation is on the right path in the fight against corruption. “From 2012 until 2015, Ghana climbed up no less than eight places in the world hierarchy which, no matter what others might say, is an unparalleled achievement,” he wrote on his Facebook wall yesterday. “Without a doubt, Ghana’s results clearly show that we’re on the right path,” the President said. The CPI ranking In the latest edition, Ghana was ranked 56th out of 168 countries, with a score of 47, which makes it the seventh best African country on the index. The score is below six Africa countries, namely, Botswana, 63; Cape Verde, 55; Seychelles, 55; Rwanda, 54, and Mauritius and Namibia, which scored 53 each. A statement from the local chapter of TI, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), last Wednesday announcing the score said, “The CPI 2015 scored Ghana

The agenda of Thursday's Fox News-hosted Republican debate, like the agenda of the Republican party itself, was pretty plainly to undermine Donald Trump. He is a threat to the party and is at war even with Fox News, so it was unsurprising that the first round of questions was explicitly designed to prompt each and every candidate to condemn the field's front-runner. The very first question, which went to Ted Cruz, sent the clear message, like many that followed it, that the candidates and moderators all oppose Trump: "Donald Trump has chosen not to attend this evening's presidential debate. What message do you think that sends to the voters of Iowa?" But once the Trump-bashing ritual had ended, and Fox News had done its duty in the GOP's campaign to bring down Trump before Trump brings down the party, something curious happened. The discussion shifted to terrorism. And every candidate on stage — as well as the moderators themselves — announced that Am

ABIA: In a bid to create jobs, eradicate poverty and increase the internally generated revenue of Abia,the state government said it has concluded plans to establish poultry villages in the three senatorial zones to encourage youths and others who have interest in poultry farming, but with little or no funds, to realise their dreams.Obinna Oriaku, Abia State commissioner for finance who made the observation on Monday, said the poultry villages would have feed mills, veterinary sections, cold rooms and marketing sections, noting that farmers would be allowed to rent facilities at the farm village at subsidised rates. The commissioner also said government would partner investors in the project to empower young farmers with funds. He expressed happiness over the successes so far recorded by the present administration in the state, especially on the ongoing road construction and rehabilitation in Aba and other parts of the state, and promised that the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led a

Former General Officer Commanding for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Government Ekpumupolo, alias Tompolo, made a volte face, Thursday, saying that he would appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which issued a bench warrant for his arrest, January 14, but “at the appropriate time.” The bench warrant followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which had filed different charges against Tompolo, including diversion of N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to personal use and laundering of N22.6 billion. Tompolo, who spoke through his Media Adviser and Consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, also said he would never commence war against the Federal Government, having accepted amnesty in 2009, reiterating that he was not party to the recent three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in Delta state. “Tompolo has no reason to bomb pipelines because of the EFCC case… h

The new tariffs approved for electricity consumers across the country will become effective on Monday and will enable the power distribution, generation and transmission companies to acquire needed infrastructure, the acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Anthony Akah, has said. Akah, who said this when he led top executives of the regulatory agency on a courtesy call on the National Orientation Agency in Abuja on Thursday, also said there was no going back on the new tariffs. The NERC boss said the lack of cost-reflective tariffs had hindered the electricity companies from acquiring the necessary infrastructure, adding that with the new tariffs, they would not have any excuse for not delivering on agreements they entered into with the government. He said the Nigerian power sector reform must provide an appropriate pricing template, which had been lacking, leading to deficiency in revenues from power. This, he added, necessitated the new Mu