About the Author

Popularly called Idiagbon during his university days, Yushau Abdulhameed Shuaib (YAShuaib), has distinguished himself with several credible awards in the field of public relations. Notable amongst them are Campus Writer of the year, Alhaji Sabo Mohammed Best Student in Public Relations, Delta State NYSC Merit Award, Automatic Scholarship for the Best Corps Writer, Head of State National NYSC Honours Award, NIPR Public Relations Person of the year in Kano/Jigawa State and the Young Achiever of the year from a Business Delegation Group. Read….

----------Some Recent Articles----------

Bomb Blasts and Conflicting Figures

In Nigeria, it is not strange for mischief makers to capitalise on figures of casualties to wreck further havoc on innocent people and their properties. The last year’s gruesome mass execution of Boko Haram followers and the unfortunate and deceptive extra judicial killing of former commissioner in the Borno State by security personnel which were videotaped and downloaded on the internet and mobile phones, are alleged to be fuelling the reprisal attacks that has continued ceaselessly... Read
 

The Most Corrupt: Between Politicians and Civil Servants

Corruption in the civil service is influenced by the political class. Bankole, probably needs to be reminded that the major suspects and culprits being prosecuted for financial and economic crimes are not the submissive civil servants but the political office holders that include members of the legislative and executive arms... Read

Riches: Face to face with Alamieyeseigha

The face-to-face brief encounter with a man of power and riches makes one wonder; what is in this life after all? No matter one’s mundane accumulations, it does not change one’s physical being and I doubt if such individuals have peace of mind compare to the poor or ordinary citizens that eke-out a living through decent endeavours... Read

The PR Crisis of NNPC indebtedness
The unnecessary imbroglio, a national shame and PR crisis could have been averted through consultations in the spirit of team work. Some may argue that the young minister was taught the hard lesson to check his outspokenness and visibility from taking shine off his senior colleagues... Read

Any Good Luck for President Jonathan in 2011 Election

The story of this Goodluck is full of ‘lucks’ that are ‘good’ from unexpected and reluctant contenders, from a Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State to Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a twist of fate his bosses in the two powerful offices had to vacate their office untimely that enable him took over as a governor of the state and a president of the country... Read

The Victims of Halliburton and TSKJ Scandals
Sometimes between 2004 and 2005, this writer while working as a PR person at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) was inundated with various enquiries from the foreign media on the alleged bribery. They sought to verify if the Chairman of the Commission, Engr. Hamman Tukur was aware of his name, allegedly featured in a handwritten note by an official of one of the oil companies... Read

That Plane Crash and Fire Outbreak in Nigeria

While these incidents were yet to be addressed, an aircraft hired by NEMA for a mock rescue exercise crash-landed in Port-Harcourt International Airport. Rescue workers on the ground that had actually been on the standby for the mock exercise instead found themselves dealing with real emergency and saved all the passengers and crew from death... Read

Online Propaganda and Social media

In the fear that the social media seems to be going out of control, some actions are being taken in some societies to deny access to selected websites. Some countries like China have blocked access to some websites; these include the popular YouTube, Twitter and Facebook to control so-called cultural imperialism... Read

In Defence of Abdul Mutallab of Nigeria– A Response to MEND

Won’t it sound unbecoming to associate social vices peculiar to some sections of the country to its people, because of the action of few who engage in international prostitution, drug trafficking, Sea Piracy, 419 fraudsters, armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom and the recruitment of young girls as baby-manufacturers in addition to ritual killings?... Read

Still on El-rufai and Ribadu on President Umaru YarÁdua

Why could hardened supporters of YarÁdua’s nomination for the Presidency suddenly turn to harshest critics of the same person they have known for several years? Nasiru El-rufai the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Nuhu Ribadu the ex- Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were top public officials and major campaigners of Umaru Musa YarÁdua as the sole candidate of People Democratic Party (PDP)...Read

Still on Early Warning Alert System in Nigeria

Some latest technologies are being deployed to detect likelihood and potentials of natural disaster like hurricane, flooding, earthquake among others. While the accuracy of some of the forecasts and early warnings may be disputed, precautionary measures are always advocated to avert such natural calamities in any case... Read

Golden Caskets: Between Gani fawehinmi and Wacko Jacko

A very interesting similarity between Gani Fawehinmi and Wacko Jacko was that they were buried in most expensive and glittering golden caskets compared to other caskets used by some celebrities across the globe. A Golden casket is specifically designed and customised to the taste of the customer who gives the order... Read

CBN Governor and PR Approach

The fear I have for Sanusi is that he is behaving typical of his close friends: Nasiru El-rufai and Nuhu Ribadu, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Chairman of the economic and financial crimes Commission (EFCC) respectively who do not give a hoot in their public pronouncement and comments once they are fully convinced, when positive actions should speak louder than mere utterances.... Read

Saraki: The Father, The Son and Only Daughter

The game-plan, the opposition claims is simple: The political godfather would influence the election of the senate-daughter to be Governor in 2011, the young son who is presently Presidential Adviser to be moved to the Federal House of Representatives as a legislator while the present Governor would move to the Senate where he could likely emerge the Senate President, a position zoned to the North-Central... Read

Federal appointment: Between sanusi Lamido and Steve Oransaye

While there was intense hullabaloo over the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as new Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), that of Steve Osagiede Orosanye as the Head of Service of the Federation did not create any fuss even though the two offices they now occupy are very sensitive in the public service... read

The Plight of the Displaced in Warri- An Eye-Witness

I discovered to my bewilderment beautiful mansions built in the midst of some shanties, which I learnt were owned by individuals, some said including the militants... I learnt contractors for projects in any areas must pay special fees to some leaders and special levies to area boys who behave like militants or the projects that would benefit the community would be abandoned whether mobilisation fees paid or not... Read

Fatima Usman: When A Mother Departs with Children

I looked into our friend’s face, the fears were written all over him:  the trembling lips, the twisted nerve around the neck, the speechless mouth, though agape and reddened eyes were confirmation that something awful had happened... Read

NEMA and Challenges of Managing Disasters

The director general of the agency, a retired Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Audu-Bida viewed the criticisms as challenges to be focused and devised strategies to prevent a reoccurrence or to respond immediately in case of similar emergency. Not many would be willing to work in an organization whose major responsibility is to manage disaster because of the fear of being caught in the flame of the tragedy, but Audu-Bida and staff of the agency have developed passion for the job in saving people in distress... Read

The Battle over Excess Crude Accounts

It is necessary to also know that while the excess revenue account is in dollar, there exists another account for excess revenue known as the Excess Domestic Crude Account for amounts over and above the budgeted benchmark for crude oil allocated to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for domestic consumption... Read

Information Management: Between Odey and Akunyili

Other sensitive ministries like that of justice, health, finance, science and technology have always had relevant professionals with requisite qualification as ministers. Since the reemergence of democratic dispensation in 1999 some of the past ministers of Federal Ministry of Information were Emeka Chikelu, a lawyer; Frank Nweke Jnr., a zoologist and John Odey a banker by qualifications... Read

Reviewing Obasanjo’s Sermon on Obama’s Election

Obasanjo discloses one undisputable fact, a reality we face today as Nigerians which keep us going and sustain our faith in the country as he captures our moods with this word: “After all, hope is the only thing we freely give to ourselves and it is the only thing that we are left with when all else has been taken away.” I think we must move ahead from mere hope to the realization of our dreams, because many have died, counting on hope and hoping for better day that never came... Read

Aftermath: Visiting Niger Delta

Before discovering a seeming Ijaw’s War of dominance over other ethnic groups in the region, I took some daring adventures, quite exciting to satisfy my journalistic instincts. There are indeed natural problems of degradation of lands, oil-polluted streams, air-pollutions from flaring and non-availability of lands because of water level that require massive sand-filling for building or any construction. I was moved by painful irony of a deserted Oloibiri Community where Nigeria struck oil in 1956 and miraculous transformation of Odi to beautiful town after its alleged destruction in a retaliatory military attack in 1999... Read

General Akilu and Philanthropic School of Moral

In this maddening period where schools’ proprietors are charging fees that are out of the blue, when governments at all tiers fail to provide quality education; where teachers in public schools take children for ransom with incessant and reckless strikes as top public officers prefer exorbitant private and foreign alternatives for their wards, there are few individuals in Nigeria, who in the spirit of patriotism and philanthropy are funding education for the benefits of our children’s future... Read

If President Yar'Adua Doesn't Die

Considering some of the fears expressed, many would have anticipated arrival of a coffin from the Presidential Jet, but President Umaru Musa returns safely to the country from the officially disclosed Lesser Hajj and unofficial announced medical check-up in Saudia Arabia... Read

Visiting the Niger Delta Region

My hands are still shaky… my voice quivers as I watch my dear family in sober moods over my present predicament. I wonder if I had offended anybody that the worst deserving punishment to be meted out to me is to be asked to travel to that scary zone. One thing I know is that my boss would not wish my bad luck. For some days since I received an instruction to proceed to the volatile Niger Delta region in Nigeria for an official engagement, I and my family have had to wear mournful looks just as I keep on having nightmares. Sometimes I see Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, Tom Ateke and Henry Okah giving me assurance. Assurance!... Read

Still on Indigene and Federal Character Principles

It may sound strange to sectional leaders to realize that one of the great contenders for the presidency of the United States of America in the present dispensation is Senator Barack Obama, a son of an African Muslim. It is not about ethnic representations it is about whom the cap fits to develop a nation... Read

Africa Finance Corporation and Other Probes

So far the most contentious probe is that on the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) which has generated a lot of debates, divisions and diversionary reactions. The controversy is so intense that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the major promoter of the corporation, had to place disclaimers to dissociate itself and debunk tribal jingoists who were spreading rumours of persecution of one of the major players. Read….

Power Probe: A Repeat of Old Dramas

It seems Nigerians are forgetful. The recent disclosure at the Public Hearing of House Committee on Power Sector probing the alleged misappropriation of about $16 billion earmarked for the power sector by the Obasanjo government is reenactment of a similar public hearing held in June 2006 by a Joint Senate Committee of Appropriation and Finance investigating withdrawals of funds from the Federation Account. Read….

NITEL: Saving Our Collective Patrimony

It is public knowledge that some of the so-called successful private individuals apart from indulging in conspiracy and insiders’ dealings, made their wealth from excessive government’s patronage through inflated contracts, tax rebates, concessions and policies that are sometimes detrimental to government’s responsibilities to its citizens. Read….

WINDFALL: Sharing of Excess Crude and Dollarised Allocations

This is a season of windfall and a period of extra vigilance by electorate to closely monitor how huge and unprecedented revenue allocation would be managed from the Federation Account.  Read….

RIBADU: The Battle of Spin Doctors

There is no doubt that Ribadu was able to court the goodwill of the public, especially the media by his receptiveness to their enquiries and for daring the untouchables. He therefore deserved all the solidarity, taking into cognizance that as human he has obvious shortcomings which explains the alleged selectivity in the choice of his preys. Read….

Warren Buffet: Humblest Billionaire on Earth

If that is incredibly unbelievable, then take this: “Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk and never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.”  Read….

What of Al-Mustafha Bamaiyi and Others?

This is about morality, fairness, precedence and justice on criminal cases, no matter the ethnic backgrounds of those involved... the beneficiaries of judicial magnanimity include Ganiyu Adam and Frederick Fasehun of OPC, Asari Dokubo and Ateke Tom of militant Niger Delta groups and Ralph Uwazuruike (MASSOB).  Read….

BPP: A NEW ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY?

BPP? What is in a name? Few years ago, the words ICPC, EFCC and NEITI would have sounded gibberish.  Read….

Open Letter to Minister of Information

Open letter like this convey the importance of the message instead of the usual direct memo which could be lost in a morass of bureaucratic redtapism or appear inconsequential in the heap of mails requiring the attention of ever busy public officers Read….

ECONOMIC AGENDA: Between Theory and reality

While an economic theory is acknowledged and accepted in intellectual discourse, economic realities are of great concern and more pronounced amongst ordinary citizens. Read….

SEGUN ADENIYI: When an Edior Becomes the Spokesperson

Surprisingly I was summoned by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ubong Ufot Ekaette over the rumour in the press. With a clear conscience, I exonerated myself before the SGF (after all, I was not in the Presidency).  Read….

Still on One Man Four Wives

It is not only Islam that recognizes polygamy, other cultures and religions also promote it.  We should not forget the biblical King Solomon and David who were polygamous. Around the world too, there are local chiefs, traditional rulers and religious leaders, including Christians especially Aladuras that have more than one wife. Some highly celebrated Nigerians from the Southern Nigeria are also polygamous like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, billionaire-politician MKO Abiola, and born-again Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya. Read….

419 and the Rest of Us