“Yes, all ministries are equal in status, but do not be fooled, some are more strategic and, if you like, ‘juicier’ than others. Consider the top dozen: Justice, Defence, Finance, Interior, Works/Power, Petroleum, Transportation, Education, Agriculture, Communication, Health and FCT. Not one of these did the President allow an Igboman..”

The first part of this article tried to establish certain facts. Chiefly, it was pointed out that our penchant for using the term Fulani herdsmen was unfair demonisation of one ethnic group – the Fulani. While a good number of herdsmen and women are Fulani, those shepherding livestock all over Nigeria are not all Fulani neither are they all men. Those late Yinusa Idi recruited, my Supervisor, in a settlement near Gezawa, Kano, to handle my own flock in the early 1980s included Basa-Nges, Igalas and Juguns. They’ve learnt the tricks.

That was one of the conditions good old “Rudy” gave for becoming a real man in one those long poems which we were proud to memorise at Igbobi College in the early 1960s. As much as possible, it has become a vital part of my life. The principle is “in any circumstance, be the last to get hysterical”. At the moment several events are driving Nigerians up the walls.

“At a glance at Exhibit A11 (result of the election), you can observe that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010.” Justice Ambrosa, nullifying the Rivers State Governor’s Election, Saturday, October 24, 2015.

A sub-lead story said “Ex-minister turns against associates, petitions EFCC.” On the same page we were told that “EFCC invites Akpabio again, grills him for nine hours.” There are enough materials in those two stories alone on which at least six to ten weekly columns can be written. The most obvious story concerns the changing fortunes of people who were once regarded as untouchables.