Elisha Abbo is a symptom of a systemic illness ravaging  the country. There are tens of thousands of Elisha Abbo’s scattered like rashes all over the country. They are intoxicated by their power and money. They  maul whoever crosses their path. They  torture him some more if he proves recalcitrant. The country is  morally bedridden.

The north must wake up now. It must not murder sleep.The north saw nothing coming.  Population was deemed  strength. But it should have watched when others slowed down in breeding. It bred too many children and didn’t do much to care for them. They  roamed the streets. Yet, it bred more.  They forsook schools. And took to begging . Yet, it bred more. Those children, many of them, have gone feral. Now,the north cannot sleep. The north slept for too long.

The future of the Niger Delta looks bleak. It is not hopeless because crude oil will soon become worthless. Crude oil lives on borrowed times. And those who have hung their faith on it will pay for not reading the times.

There have been two public national ceremonies in two weeks. The seats reserved for former heads of state were empty. General Gowon sat alone on May 29. On June 12, leaders came from other countries. But our former leaders stayed away from our celebration of democracy. In Banana republics, former leaders live in forced exile in foreign lands. But in our great country, they are free men.  What then could be their anger? And what could be this message?

The Akachi tower may have been a useless monument. But it was  a government’s white elephant. It was built with public funds.  It could have been  a poor imagination of what could attract tourists and excite residents.  But those who did not like it should  have simply built a better one. After all , Imo still has a lot of  unkempt virgin lands.