I have very often wondered what it would to take to wake us up from this deep slumber, you, me, the political leaders, everybody. What is the price of all this ineptitude? I have often wondered in my quiet moments what we the majority of Nigerians can do to change this utterly absurd situation that we find ourselves in.

You would think that a plane literally falling on our collective heads would serve as a wake-up call for all and sundry. For where? It seems to be business as usual. That was what was so dramatic about the last Dana crash, the fact that it touched us ALL. But alas! beyond those that had bodies to bury it seems like that touch wasn’t deep enough.

A sitting Senator, member of a State House of Assembly get shot in cold blood at burial site no less, and there’s another collective shudder. I wonder why though. After all,scores of people die in this country every single day as a direct or indirect result of the years of neglect and mismanagement. Perhaps why this one sears the consciousness is that it underscores the fact that “safe” is a relative word.

I guess what is most frightening though is that as things continue to spiral further  out of control,and the powers that be seem to be more and more clueless as to how to control the situation. We can’t seem to even agree on the identity of our nation’s assailants — boko haram? Fulani herdsmen? Somali mercenaries? – talkless of coming up with an action plan. You would think that such a brazen and public attack on one of their own would jolt the Nation Assembly out of their complacency but alas, their response as always is to set up more committees.

Against the back drop of all of this the President’s wife, Dame Jonathan Goodluck is made a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State… (If you have to pick a liaison why not one who resides in in the President’s bedroom) Mr Governor no doubt thinks he’s too smart by half. The fact that he had to expend so much time and energy justifying and defending the appointment is proof that the arrangement is wonky.

And even if all things are lawful is this really expedient? Mr and Mrs Goodluck could not advise themselves giving the prevailing situation in the country at the moment, and decide that now is not the time for spurious and questionable ‘promotions? I know he said he didn’t give a damn but really? And pray tell how is this arrangement going to work? Doesn’t a Permanent Secretary have to go to the office? Or are they going to transfer her ‘service’ to the Presidency? But all of that pales into insignificance at the thought that the Dame was once a teacher and responsible for ‘shaping’ young minds… what subject did she teach, English? Enough said.

The way things are going? The matter cannot end well. And who exactly is in charge? That is the big question. It has always been difficult in these parts to impeach a sitting President. The power of incumbency and all of that. Let’s see if Mr Goodluck will also make history in this regard. He is a man of many firsts no?