The EFCC "Name & Shame" List

The 137-strong list of "investigated" and "indicted" political gladiators put out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was a bombshell of sorts. The BBC reported it as name and shame while highlighting Vice President Atiku Abubakar's presence on the infamous list.

Not surprisingly there is an uproar. There will be more. And it will be messy.

My worry is that the commission is asking the world to take its word for it! No way! Let them do the right and proper thing: put facts & figures behind the charges. That way, we can exercise our full discretion and wait for further action.

My advice is that the presidency should stay completely out of this. The EFCC doesn't need any megaphone. Let Nuhu Ribadu take his case to the COURTS. So should those who fell aggrieved.

Meanwhile, the political parties need to honour this list with due process and integrity. We in the public domain, especially through the independent media, must insist on hearing all sides of the story. Yes.

We are the voters!

Let The Campaigns Begin!

Now that the ruling PDP has set the ball rolling, the floodgates should swing open for full-blown presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. As INEC chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, recently said, we are yet to hear about issues, about ideologies, about contending and concrete proposals, about costs and funding options, about slates and winner-teams, etc., etc.

Let the debates and the ideas flow! Let Nigerians have both the fun and the final say!! Pray, let the campaigns begin!!!

2007: Our Date with CHANGE

Change. All change! It is the year both for the United Nations and Nigeria, our dear Nigeria. Oh, how nice to be here...in 2007! So sweetly nice. Thank God.

As the UN must do, Nigeria must consolidate on the past and move with courage and candour into the future. Old values of honour, dignity, truth, integrity, work-ethics and spirituality must endure. New ways and means, including ICT, high skills, diaspora input, local content and cyber safety must be embraced. Due process, the rule of law, true patriotism, healthy competition and true leadership-in-accountability must take hold and flourish. Nigeria must change bad ways, embrace new and beneficial ways.

Then, the big change: 2007 Elections. Ah! Huge surprises. Far-reaching. Deep. It will be a sea change - sweeping, just and sweet. Never mind the temporary setbacks and tentative lull in the land so far, it is all the meek-street before the roaring-highway. Things will soon erupt, explode and excite. It will be pun and fun.

So, let the real deals be made. Soon soon...

Let the real DEBATES begin!