In 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised that the Communist Party would deliver great successes in advance of two upcoming centennials, in 2021 and 2049. But no amount of nationalist posturing can change the fact that the fall of CPC appears closer than at any time since the end of the Mao era. On October 1, to mark the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic, Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech that unreservedly celebrates Communist Party of China’s record since 1949. But, despite Xi’s apparent confidence and optimism, CPC’s rank and file are increasingly concerned about the regime’s…

Stormy Dimension To Academia In Nigerian Varsities By Unions Is Unhealthy Mr Kayode Soremekun, Professor of political science, is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye Ekiti, which in the past two weeks has been dealing with serious internal matters. In this interview with AYODELE AFOLABI, the school administrator explained the dimensions of the situation at FUOYE and how he has dealt with them. There seems to be perennial crises owing to activities of different unions in your university. Give us the dimensions? Let me begin by saying that virtually every university in Nigeria, especially in the public universities, there…

I found ex-Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola’s explanation to the media after last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting very interesting. Answering questions on his Ministry, Fashola made disclosures on how helpless and hopeless those of them who are Ministers could be. Yet, they are the ones the public hold accountable for the failures of governance, especially as it pertains to ministries and or parastatals under their wings. Fashola, whose wings were clipped with the removal of the Power ministry from his portfolio, now has Works and Housing to answer for. How many abandoned projects does he have? Reporters said there…

A Yoruba officer walked up to Mr Oladipo Diya at the height of his 1997 crisis with his boss, Mr Sani Abacha. “Sir, what is happening?” The very senior officer looked away from the colonel and told him there was nothing. “Sir, did you say there is nothing?” The officer asked with a tone of rhetorics and switched to deep structure Yoruba. “Sir, ti owo ko ba se san mo, a a ka l’eri ni” (if you can no longer swing your arms, fold them on your head). The General looked away; the colonel left. That was on December 13,…