These corrupt officers (fathers and mothers) extort scarce public resources into private pockets, literally undermining the security of the nation, and eroding the social and moral fabric of nations. They no longer stop the vehicle for the proper checks as they case may be; just N50 gives you a visa to drive around legitimately irrespective of whether you are carrying a contraband or not. These men are not doing their duty, instead, they are focused on making money illegally and there is no clear difference between the Nigerian police offices and highway armed robbers – they are all brutal, selfish and extortionist. Will it be possible for Nigeria to effectively tame the scourge of police extortion on our highways?
STOP BRIBERY TODAY!

According to METRO, Agu Irukwu was chosen by 54 per cent of voters in a competition organised by Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Metro. He was picked from a shortlist that also included US president Barack Obama, former South African leader Nelson Mandela and US human rights activist Martin Luther King. Former investment banker Mr Irukwu, senior pastor of Jesus House in London since 1994, has come under fire for his outspoken views on homosexuality.
The married father of three signed a letter sent to a national newspaper, attacking laws which force churches to accept gay people. Mr Johnson, who voted for Muhammad Ali in the poll, has previously been criticised by gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell for accepting Warwick University law graduate Mr Irukwu’s invitation to a carol service.

The competition takes place during Black History Month, which champions black culture, history and heritage, and seeks to recognise the contribution made by black people to Britain.

Stand up for what is RIGHT.

Muhammad made the call in a memorandum he presented to the 42nd Meeting of the National Council on Information and Communication, which began in Calabar on Oct. 26.

He said that traditional rulers’ involvement in partisan politics posed a threat to their position as guides to “how we communally live, intermingle, interact and prosper together, as a people”.

Muhammad said that traditional institutions were the only lasting legacy that the rest of the world could identify to be “originally what belongs to us”.

“Their arbitrary function in moments of dispute between families or communities is grossly undermined by their active participation in politics.”

The commissioner said that those empowered by circumstance, try to bring the paramount rulers to convey to their lieutenants, down to the people “all sorts of campaign instruments and stop at nothing to win elections”.

“In this manner, they are being recruited by mainstream politicians, cowed and misdirected to outrun the bounds of inheritance and unwittingly overstep the ancestry limits which unfortunately compromise their position in history.”

He noted that traditional rulers who joined the ruling party that failed to win re-election were subjected to all manner of threat and intimidation, while their colleagues who were neutral are demoted or deposed by the winning party.

Muhammad said that this had become part of “our democratisation process and the outcome, include loss of lives and property, as well as permanent memories to live with”.

He also drew the council’s attention to the involvement of civil servants in partisan politics, especially at the beginning of every electioneering campaign, in the bid to enhance their prospect of promotion or posting, when elections are won or lost.

“The council may have to take a look at the adverse effects of the involvement of career civil servants in partisan politics on the civil service system.

“It may also wish to look into ways of exempting traditional rulers and civil servants from active participation in politics,” he said.

Muhammad called for sustainable mass media campaign to enlighten the traditional rulers, civil servants and all stakeholders on the need to ban traditional rulers and career civil servants from participating in anyway in politics.

The commissioner was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hajiya Dije Gusau.

The 3-day conference is being attended by state commissioners for information, permanents secretaries in the state ministries of information and their counterpart at the federal level.

It is expected to be officially declared open on Oct. 27 by the Minster of Information Labaran Maku.

It is a pity that our leaders  continue to take the citizens for a ride. Our society is becoming lawless day by day; the leadership and institutional discipline that should be the bedrock upon which our future should be built is fast being eroded.

It has become clear that sometimes, to make progress, our leaders needs to be wiped like cows to drive in some ideas into their brain. There is a strong need to ensure – before election (selection) or appointment – that there exists a balance between theoretical and practical buoyancy in the thinking faculty of the species of Homo sapiens inhabiting this country.

However, it was not always like this in the beginning, the Awolowo, Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello of this country were men rich with ideas and ideologies. These were men who positively impacted on the society through their ideas and strive for a better living condition for the citizenry. Their effort, though may be seen as regionally or ethnically directed, was still focused on giving the inhabitants of the region a sense of belonging and happiness.

It is a tragic pity that we have metamorphosed to a stage where scruples has been a virtue for the fools, to a time where ideas are no longer relevant in politics and governance, a time where fraudulent money can answer all thing – even power and human life. A time where our future is becoming an issue of political gamble. A time where no institution is functional, a time where the children prefer living in exile while their home burns to ashes. Is there still light in the tunnel?