AHANONU KINGSLEY BLOG

A former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke, has revealed his interest in having a shot at the Nigerian presidency. Mr Duke made this known at a symposium on emerging leaders, where he delivered a keynote address. Donald Duke, had tried contesting for the Nigerian presidency in 2007, under the People's Democratic Party, but lost the ticket to the then governor of Katsina, Umar Musa Yar'adua, who later became the president. Duke, while calling on the youths to use their numbers and grim and get involved strongly in politics, said he had no flair for legislative affairs, which was why he never bothered contesting them when he left office but opted for the top job. He assured that he was not yet done with his presidential aspiration and that when the opportunity presents itself, he would indicate his interest.

Most parts of the South east observed the sit-at-home instruction handed by the Indigenous People of Biafra to commemorate the 50 years since the Nigeria-Biafra war started. Activities slowed as vehicular movements were voluntarily restricted. In Owerri, the Imo state capital, major streets were deserted, as handful of motorists and pedestrians were seen in the early hours of the day. Banks and other commercial outfits were locked up. And even some banks that opened, hurriedly closed up due to low patronage. Reports from Onitsha and Aba indicated how there were massive observance of the order. The Onitsha Main market and the Ariaria market were completely deserted. The leader of the secessionist group, Nnamdi Kalu, who was granted bail just a month ago had ordered that the people of the southeast and the south-south who formed most part of the defunct republic to stay at home. Mazi Kalu, popularly referred to as Director, had prior to his arrest and incarceration by the Buha

When I think of May 30, especially looking back as it relates to the ominous year 1967 and the severed Biafran aspiration, I remember with nostalgic sense the circumstances that ultimately triggered what  some might refer to as the avoidable Nigeria-Biafra war. But it would be worthy for those as think it to be avoidable, to make scrutiny, as to reconsider their stand, that the accumulated events that finally led to the lid been blown off were evidently nasty situations that made the war very much inevitable. The preliminary events of the Civil War were very much gory, horrible, and dastardly; and these were the view that May 30 brings to mind. The slaughter of over 300 Igbo soldiers, the massacre of over 10,000 Igbos in the north and the full blown brutality, which the Nigerian government-sophisticated and armed- meted out to a defenseless and traumatized people, mostly children and women were wind redolent with ills that would obviously demand of the most precautionary and

"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth." – Evan Esar The gift of life is one that's short and fleeting, which few enjoys at a moment. Life, also, is a gift offered to one once and which does not repeat thereafter. The ephemeralness of life and the fact that it is a one turn event makes it a deeply cherished essential. Life is highly regarded and the reason for this remains the same for all bearers even as the methodology by which this truism is suggested and expressed varies. The use of life as to express its worth and how so cherished and overtly protected it is swings as it is assayed from one individual to another. It is to say that while some commit this essential commodity to ventures which are truly worthy and impacting, others mess it around while yet believing they are making good use of it. But then the value we attach to life is showcased, at the end, by the impressions we leave behind.

The controversial letter The recent transmission of letter by President Muhammadu Buhari that necessitated his travel back to the U.K. for followup medication has been seen to generate controversy, albeit unnecessarily. In that letter Buhari had written the Senate that his vice, Prof Osinbajo would 'coordinate the affairs of state.' It was something the President did out of constitutional demand. But unbeknownst to Pesident Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), who left almost immediately the letter was written, he had left behind an open fjord for mischief makers to make issues out of. The question went from if he had not done the transmission to be focused, and rather fiddling, on the appropriateness of the choice of words of Mr Buhari. The burden of leadership, which has seen Buhari often times open to gritting censures,oftentimes unwarranted, has seen his traducers finding the need to become interpreters of the English word selfishly just to suit their mischief. However, I as

The news of the return of another tranche of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped over three years ago, on the 14th of April, is not only exhilarating but heartwarming and inspiring of hope. It is one whose long wait has made its view so energizing. Many, worldwide, had looked forth to the coming back of the young sisters of Chibok, right from the very moment of that horrendous and demeaning abduction of that evil night. Their eerie seizure was one that jolted common sense and one necessitated a great hope. And so when it happened and in such magnitude, it was an expectation whose manifestation had galvanized the high spiritedness which eventual outburst is the joy, unqualified joy, as seen in the many who had received it. Indeed it is not a cheering message only  to the parents and the immediate families of those whose daughters were only coming back after so long period of captivity, of heavy lack of filial connectivity and love. It is more also a thing of joy to a waiting nation

President Buhari In recent times, there has been growing concern and anxiety over the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari. The president's failure to chair the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting which he's statutorily meant to chair, for the fourth time running, has pushed further the apprehension and enlarging the frightful speculation. There is worry in the land; to say the least, every mind is set on edge, especially of those who had looked up to the President Muhammadu Buhari as the right hand for the Nigerian job, with the news of his debilitating health situation. It is indeed very pathetic if indications emanating are anything to go by. To the summary that Mr Buhari is critically sick and fast dying. It is pathetic on the part of the president, his family and the good conscionable Nigerian people, whose president could well be described as invalid, incapacitated and dying and whose hope of a redirected nation fledges. But it is something of g