I once wrote an article in defence of Attah during his first term when he came under attack for two decisions that were destined to have lasting impact on the economic and social lives of the people of Akwa Ibom State. The first was his decision to invest in ECONET Wireless shares and the second was the construction of Ibom Plaza.

The presido of Area boys is going home – victim of arthritis which has rendered the right arm almost useless. After serious consideration regarding what needs to be done before I can no longer write anything, it suddenly occurred to me that I have been neglecting my duty to my closest politician brother, mentor, adviser and friend – Obong Victor Attah. Let me discharge it now because another chance might not present itself unless the doctors can find a breakthrough. As it is, this column, which ordinarily should be finished in three hours or less will now consume eight hours of declining time. But it will be eight hours well-spent as my late father taught me in 1957.

I am filled with the “milk of human kindness” today, so, I am just presenting Cardinal Arogundade’s text message without comments. We had a lively discussion on the phone and we agreed to disagree. That is the beauty of democracy which “Third term to Life term”, as planned by Obasanjo, would have destroyed as Mubarak and Mugabe did. That the man could even think of the third term idea is horrible enough.

This article could have been titled “SECOND CHILDISHNESS SETS IN” and it would still be apt. Baba Iyabo who claims to be 76, but whose son, Gbenga, had also told us that “my father does not know his real age” and who on top of that parades two birthdays, is in “The last scene of all,/That ends this [his] strange eventful history,/ [Which] is second childishness and mere oblivion,/ Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything”.

One of the reasons we are getting nowhere in Nigeria lies in the fact that too often our conversations, discussions or disagreements are conducted with dubious data as the basis for discussion.

Two months ago, writing about another media tsunami, it was predicted that, with the elections over, government officials would soon invade media houses to raid them for “Media Advisers” and Commissioners. The raid is not over yet. But it has captured two of the best.

About two months ago, one of the regular readers of this page asked me if President Jonathan’s ‘humility’ was not sufficient reason to give the man a second look. In a three part series, I dismissed humility as an attribute expected of great leaders.

The most difficult decision people sometimes have to make is not between “totally right” and “absolutely wrong.” However, the individual determines what is “right” or “wrong,” anybody who can be regarded as well-adjusted and who is not corrupted or under duress can generally decide to support the “right” and resist the “wrong.” The most difficult choices involve two “rights” or two “wrongs.”

In a true democracy, where the separation of powers between the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary is firmly entrenched, the President has no business interfering with the selection of the officers of the legislature.

In the war between the Nigeria Police and terrorists, whether Boko Haram or others, there is only one side to take for any patriotic citizen of this country. I am siding firmly with the police because the others aim to dominate us against our will; but not the police. And, you better join too; because this is a struggle for the soul of our country.