In a land filled with milk and honey, is it any wonder that Africans are suffering? Is it any wonder that the continent remains underdeveloped? When it matters, our leaders are found wanting. They can afford to sleep when important decisions are made at important international summits.

The current fixation on Iran is informed, not by Iran and Iranians' best interests, but, rather, an agenda which is driven by the  interests of others and outsiders! And why was there this predominance and prevalence of protest signs written in English? Could this be an indication that there is some outsourcing and external engineering, orchestration and choreography in what the world just witnessed in Iran? Why so many posters in English? Whatever happened to Farsi and Arabic? Who were the Iranians talking to? Oh, the international community? I thought this was an internal issues for Iranians?

On June 12, 1993, Nigerians conducted themselves in an orderly manner. The electoral commission played by the rule it set for the election. That election witnessed a real presidential debate - which helped many voters in making up their minds - something we haven't had in our 10 years of uninterrupted democracy! Unfortunately, General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the results, making mincemeat of the fundamental right of Nigerians to vote.

Strange bed-fellows or not, President-elect Barack Obama in a gusty political move has shown once again that he is capable of transcending petty politics by choosing an experienced politician with immense gravitas to become his Secretary of State nominee. Whether this political marriage is for the long haul or destined for divorce, many including his most ardent critics, give this latest Mr. Obama's tactical move a deserved "thumbs-up" Sen. Clinton has delivered for her New York constituency and will by extension do the same for America.

While I congratulate President-elect Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America after a historic presidential run that sent him from the Chicago South Side to the white house. Does not mean, anyone is ignoring his brief hiatus in the United States senate. The expectation from his mandate is astronomical and expected. On Tuesday, November 4, 2008 America went to the polls in record numbers and re-affirmed the true meaning of her creed

As Nigerian Americans reap the dividend of democracy in "God's Own Country", they must find a way to replace democrazy in their land of birth. It's time for them to fight, to inspire, to change the spirit of thinking; it's time for them to help conquer fears that often grip their people at home; it's time for them to devise a permanent strategy to liberate their people who are in perpetual suffering as each day wax. It's time to educate their people about the importance of today's historical moment in far away America.

As the rest of the world are watching to see what the outcome of American presidential election portends, Nigeria the most populous nation in black Africa are tuned in as well. But what has fasinated many remain the ease with which Senator Obama sublimates personal ambition and ego to reach across the aisle to work with even those he may disagree with to achieve a beneficial goal for humanity and a country that he loves. Talk of patriotism.

Senator McCain and his running mate talked about socialism as if America has not always exhibited some form of socialism within their capitalism in order to carry along the less advantaged amongst them along. Even those bible waving Americans often call us to contribute our hard-earned money in order to spread wealth to poor people of the third world. Moreover, bible calls for slight socialism.

Many are still politically dumb-founded and confounded that an African-American State Senator from Illinois, who until his very upbeat speech at 2004 Democratic Convention was a virtual unknown is on the verge of making history. How in the world has his fortunes turned or some still think it’s just a dream instead of embracing his realism. Well, the answer is that it’s not a dream. It’s a new reality that has gone from not just hope but instead to the annals of  world history. 

Anyone who has followed recent American presidential politics and history will no doubt agree this 2008 election is gravitating into her very critical stage as we speak. In this critical stage, any candidate who desires a victory after the votes are tabulated Nov. 4 must have started fighting hard and branding their opponents for who they are not. In 2004, the infamous ‘Swift-Boat’ attacks marred if not ignominiously tarnished Sen. John Kerry’s sterling military credentials as a Purple Heart veteran.

The push between Russia and America is taking on a new catastrophic spate on the surface as it is in that if something is not done quickly by the rest of the Super Powers, particularly the members of the Security Council, the situation will be unrepentantly gory that even the city of Gory will not be able to withstand the bashing that it may receive at the end of this bloodbath and killing. My fear is that Gori may end up becoming a shadow of itself in Georgia at the aftermath of this aggression.

A series of steps needs to be taken: (1) not to allow funds from African elites and ruling class to be deposited in their financial institutions and also to  not allow any kind of investments i.e. in real estate and the stock markets; (2) not to allow African leaders, along with their proxies and family members, from receiving medical treatments in their hospitals; (3) not to allow the children of these leaders and the elites to come to the West for training or university education;

As the much awaited unity between Senator Hilary Clinton and Democratic Party presumptive nominee Senator Obama has been actualized Saturday, with much anticipated concession by the later, now is time to begin to lay the ground work for the fall campaign by a party shut out of victory the Republican Party in two consecutive presidential elections.

In general, nation-states pursue two fundamental goals: national security and autonomy. Whenever and wherever possible, they add a third: cooperation with other states at the global level, especially when such endeavors are in concurrence with their core and or instrumental interest. In the case of Nigeria, one could argue what those interests ought to be especially in an increasingly interrelated and integrated world and more so since Nigeria has been a laggard; but such is not within the cope of this rejoinder. This is about a clash of perspective, a dissenting opinion vis-à-vis Dr. Sam Amadi’s treatise: Ojo Maduekwe And Nigerian Foreign Policy (Daily Independent, Monday May 5, 2008).

Over the past few weeks I have been revisiting the controversial attempt to kidnap Umaru Dikko in 1984. Dikko was one of the most powerful and notorious figures in the government of President Shagari between 1979 and 1983. This is the concluding part of the series which recounts the circumstances, timing and details of the kidnap.

Over the next few weeks, I will be revisiting the controversial attempt to kidnap Umaru Dikko in 1984.Dikko was one of the most powerful and notorious figures in the government of President Shagari between 1979 and 1983.This is the second of a three part series which recounts the circumstances, timing and details of the kidnap.

For the first time in history, we have an African American and a woman in the Democratic Party and either one is going to be their presidential candidate.This means that we are going to have an African American president or a woman president if the party wins, or we'll have a Mormon president or we'll a 72 year old if a Republican wins.No senator has won the presidential candidate since J.F. Kennedy, Americans don't vote for senators.