‘Oil money: Honey or poison?’ - Mohammed Harunna

Last weekend Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, played host to the country’s energy correspondents for a workshop on reporting oil and gas. This was at the invitation of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), which has made it an annual event it organises jointly with the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the last four years.

The theme this year was “NNPC in transition: Transformation and Media’s Role in Facilitating Positive Outcome.” Four of the five papers billed for the two-day workshop were delivered each by the new Managing Director of the corporation, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the former Head of Mass Communication Department of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Suleiman Salau, the Executive Director (Operations) of the refinery, Shehu Malami, and this reporter.

The Colour of our Protests - Oyinkan Medubi

The destruction of public properties during a protest has only one colour; it is called Colour Stupid

I love colours. They not only define the personality, they also say a lot. This is why conventional wisdom of signs has given colours different tags. For some strange reason, convention thinks that white represents peace. This is why the white handkerchief is never out of my handbag. Before the altercation begins, man, I am already waving the blessed white cloth in the face of my accuser: peace, peace, be still. I do not want to go to jail for having my bumper bashed. Oh yes, it has happened.

Most people think blue is the colour of love, when the going is good, that is. No one has ever told me what the colour of a failed love is – red, do you think, or blue and red? I know people think red is the colour of danger but I think that’s because it coincides with the colour of blood (dangerous, man!) and the fact that even the worst cataracts can discern a red cloth tied to the rear end of a vehicle ferrying some long iron rods that can inadvertently penetrate the brain of an unwary speed racer. Oh yes, it has also happened.