Backstage 08 September, 2008

One year after this long rope, these critics have reconsidered their position. They are convinced that the well-being of the majority supersedes any other consideration for a President who is as gentle as a dove. The critics believe what is required is performance, results and the turning around of the Nigerian economy that has been on a tailspin. One of such critics is Dr. Junaid Muhammed, one of the vocal minds in the Second Republic House of Representatives, who has retained his radical traits many years after.

MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH, our Kano correspondent, who joined the magazine barely 7 months ago, sought out Junaid and asked him pertinent questions on a number of national issues. The interview is a credit to Nmeribeh, a brilliant graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Junaid who answered the questions put to him without holding anything back. Here is a sample of Junaid’s very direct style:”Survival is not just eating and making ways for others to eat – life presupposes some concrete achievements; and unfortunately, in this area of concrete achievements, I think Yar’Adua’s first year in office has been a monumental disaster… The way he came to power and the way he is being manipulated from behind are simply clear indications that his government is heading towards disaster… When he was sworn in as the President, he announced a seven-point agenda, which, according to him, was geared towards bettering the lives of the Nigerian people. Now, none of those seven points has been achieved and none of them would be achieved by him, no matter how long he is going to stay there’’.

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There are some governors silently doing a good job. Their efforts are hardly read in newspapers because most of the time they prefer their job to speak for them. Governor Danjuma Goje is one of them. Unlike some governors who travel here and there seeking so-called foreign investors, Goje has struck to the job and he is making a world of difference. TheNEWS reporters were in Gombe to see the excellent job Goje has been doing. Their reports constitute our cover for this week. It is in continuation of our GOVERNORS’ SERIES. Enjoy reading.