Politics

Only after eons of intense pressure and scorching temperatures, can the diamond, one of the world's most precious stones, be formed. It has been two years since Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency, first made public his intentions on being the next president of the United States of America. While twenty-four months is only the equivalent to a fraction of a fraction of an eon, the amount of pressure faced by the junior senator of the state of Illinois is certainly comparable.

President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria has spent over two weeks in Saudi Arabia and is said to have sought medical help in Jeddah. The problem is that it was unexpected and has been kept silent. 

Nigerian Anti Corruption units seized more than ₦74,182,500 ($630,000) raised during a gala event supporting the Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama.

President Umaru Yar'Adua is facing criticism as his administration has yet to fulfill some major campaign promises as he marks his one year anniversary in office this week. To add to his troubles, rumors have been circulating in recent weeks about his health, following his hospitalization during a trip to Germany.

A scare of constitutional magnitude has clutched the nation of Nigeria and is not letting go. The fears came after current president, Umaru Yar’Adua announced that he would quit if he is found to be in the presidential office illegitimately.

Obong Edidem Bassey Ekpo Bassey II, the Obong of Calabar, has accused Liyel Imoke, the governor of Cross River State of funding militants seeing how the state is fast becoming a refuge to the thugs.

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is set to open up the week explaining the amount of money spent on Nigeria’s power sector by his administration from 1999 through 2007. Experts predict that Obasanjo will place the figure at roughly about $6.5 billion. The estimate will include the large amount of debt incurred to build up the much neglected area.

The militants of the Niger Delta have boldly stated they would only participate in the proposed Niger Delta summit, providing that the Federal Government promises to implement its outcome.

The militant, separatist group of the Niger Delta, MEND, is taking yet another step into national and international politics spotlight by appealing to a former American president and a potential candidate to mediate between them and the Nigerian government in the span of one week.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has begun the process of hearing an appeal by the opposing candidates against the victory of Umaru Yar'Adua, the country's current president, in last year's elections. Atiku Abubakar and Mohammadu Buhari, the two rival candidates, have asked the court to reverse a lower court decision that upheld Yar'Adua's victory in the April 2007 vote.