Category: Columnist

By S.O.K. Shillings We have our own share of the biblical manna for the Israelites. But manna is only a respite for the Israelites in the wilderness. It was not permanent. In fact, it seized when they became contumacious and failed to obey God their ultimate Benefactor. Our mannas come in the forms of petroleum, natural ornamental stones (gold, sapphire, iron ore bauxite et al), water resources especially the sea and rivers, fertile landmasses and favourable climate including sunlight. Our economic growth must start with the realisation that those natural…

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By S.O.K. Shillings Do you know how the monarchs came to being? Aside the prophets who were chosen by God Himself, pristine leaders emerged from wars. You saved your people from scourges of attacks, conquer territories for them and decree rules and laws for them. That was why they were crowned kings. The Arabian bedouins were natural warriors and that is why monarchies reign forever in their kingdoms. Civilization and democracy must not mask the fact that until Thy-Kingdom-come, mankind is at war with its kind. Does it need explanation?…

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By Otunba Ganiyu Abiru It is indeed pathetic that our roads infrastructure is what it is today, courtesy of the serial neglect of the previous administration in Lagos State.  It would appear right from the time of Jagaban (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu) till this present Administration, one can rightly, truly but with regret conclude that we have nobody fighting the cause of lkorodu division both at d State and d Federal levels and if there were, their efforts are  not visible in the lives of d citizens With the massive votes garnered by…

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By S.O.K Shillings The absolute monarchs of pristine times were above laws. They were the laws of their respective domains. They rule their territories in fiefdom with both community and personal interests rolled in one. They defended their territories and conquered weaker ones. They had no tenures and their success was the success of the kingdom. The greatness of their rulership caused the belief that since the genetic composure were passed to their generations, the prowess and acumen of great leaders continued in hereditary succession. Besides, it was difficult to…

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By S. O. K. Shillings Esq. As modern democracy is defined as government of the people by the people for the people, choosing leaders by election or selection is imperative. In choosing those leaders, there is need for decorum and identification of ideas and philosophies so that there will be a team working for same purpose unlike what an all-comer system would offer. It is the aggregation of ideas and philosophies that gave birth to party politics. In the United Kingdom, after the civil war, political agitation centered on the…

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By S.O.K. Shillings Nigeria operates a 3-tier federal government having the federal, states and local governments. The constitution defines the rights and duties of each tier, more particularly, the sharing of responsibilities between the federal and state governments through the legislative lists (exclusive, residual and concurrent). In all, we have a federal government, 36 state governments and 774 local governments with the federal capital territory being administered by the federal government with quasi-state status. Again, it is part of the frame upon which governance and political relationship rests and the…

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By Abdur-Rahman Balogun Just like yesterday, the young baby birthed in far away Jos, Plateau State, on October 11, 1962 is 60 years on the planet. Sixty years of eventful and impactful life, with its fair of ups and downs. Sixty years full of praises to Almighty Allah who has been benevolent to Hon. (Dr.) Kafayat Oloruntoyin Abike Dabiri-Erewa. An indigene of Ikorodu from the famous Erogbogbo family in Lagos State, she has, right from her childhood till date, been a front-liner, a go-getter, an ice breaker, a workaholic, an…

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By S. O. K. Shillings Esq. The conventional literatures in Government have taught us that there are 3 arms of government, to wit: Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. The legislature makes the laws, Executive executes the laws (and policies) while the Judiciary interpretes the law. They work independently and interdependently such that while the roles are distinct and separable, the need for cohesion and rhythm in the social engineering network necessitates some overlap in their responsibilities and workings. The time-honoured doctrine of checks-and-balances is a necessary ingredient of the democratic…

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By Oke Godwin Olaoluwa One issue that does not attract the general public’s interest is taxation. Once the topic is raised in a public forum, other public members ignore or pay divided attention aside from interested parties like tax or finance professionals. Someone once told me that Tax is a bitter pill to sell in Nigeria. One of the founding fathers of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin, said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. Among the duties of a citizen…

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S.O.K Shillings There are 3 arms of Government, namely: the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The legislature makes the laws, the executive executes the laws while the Judiciary interpretes the laws. The law is the central value in governance. The Judiciary is engaged in dispute resolution, administrative law, prosecutory trials and interpretation of laws. Disputes are resolved between and among persons, person(s) and government(s); and, governments. The justice sector involves the courts, law enforcement agencies, prison services, the law practice profession and Government (ministry of justice) all working interdependently…

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