It has been a long way from the 1950s when politics was forced on the best of any community (when the best educated were begged to represent the people) to the present time when any candidate (with minimum of a school certificate) would force himself on the people as their representative.

A critical reader once asked me to define the concept of sensible politics and commonsense economics that I always refer to in this column, and also, to differentiate between that concept and President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda. My logical answer is that the President’s Transformation Agenda is now in vogue and Nigerians are familiar with the consequences of some of the actions of the Federal Government.

The joy of political freedom is the realization of the fact that free people are their own masters. After independence in 1960, Nigerians assumed responsibilities for their own destiny as a nation endowed by nature with immense human and mineral resources. In size alone, Nigeria is known as the ‘Giant of Africa’.

ANOTHER ‘Democracy Day’ (29th May) has passed innocuously with the usual songs of dividends of democracy from the mouths of many Nigerians (especially supporters of the ruling party, PDP). The opposition, as usual, has continued to remind Nigerians of the woes of missed opportunities under the present Federal Government.

In management parlance, a periodic appraisal is necessary to consider and compare the present position with the last one as a means of planning for the future. Therefore, it may be rewarding to assess the progress of the present administration from the time of its inception in 2011 to the present time. Some analysts might question the justification for judging a President half-way to the end of his term.

Today, everybody talks about corruption without any concrete suggestion as to how this common disease could be cured. The general impression is that every Nigerian is corrupt in one way or the other. It is like the ailment of malaria whose causes are well known, yet Nigerians prefer usage of drugs rather than the eradication of the causes of the disease, as an effective solution.

Every week and every day, many Nigerians will like to discuss about the good fortunes or otherwise, of their country which bears the title of Nigeria since 1914. Even if the word, ‘Nigeria’, to some, is merely a ‘geographical expression’, the country is still geographically, a reality.

There is a salient fact on which many have agreed without any dissent. It is the apparent poverty of Nigerians in spite of abundant human and naturally endowed mineral resources.

THE other day a friend gave me as Easter gift, a Chinese made Electric/Solar Lantern. After charging, the magical lantern could provide an uninterrupted brightness for at least eight hours.

FOR the purpose of this article, amnesty means general pardon being proposed for members of the Boko Haram Sect by the Federal Government. As matter of fact, the definition of a ‘ghost’ is not that clear, considering its usage in the Nigerian political scene. I must confess that though I have heard about ‘ghosts’, I have not been that fortunate to have seen one. Leaders should therefore, excuse my flight into the world of fantasy.

It is a pity that after about 100 years of forced marriage, Nigeria still remains a big country of many nations (tribes) devoid of a national identity. Everyday brings a sad reminder of a disunited nation, but naturally blessed with human and material resources.

Many followers of Nigeria‘s political development are worried about the year 2015. The prophets of doom have serious doubts about the future of Nigeria as one country before or after the 2015 elections. Many think that the year 2014 (when Nigeria will be 100 years old as a nation) would certainly foretell what the events would look like in 2015. Those who are planning for the centenary celebration are yet to be unanimous on what the celebration would represent- success or failure.

It can be safely assumed that democracy returned to Nigeria after the death of that military dictator, General Sanni Abacha. The return of democracy started in 1999 after the often forgotten character named General Abdusallam Abubakar terminated the 16 army rule that featured General Buhari, General Babangida and General Abacha. Thus, the Nigerian democratic experiment started in 1999 under the 1999 Constitution (as now amended).

The statement that Nigeria is a poor country with widespread poverty is axiomatic. It is estimated that more than 75% in the Nigerian population live in squalor and could hardly make a decent living from what they do. This situation calls into question the general assumption that a country blessed with crude oil and other mineral resources and also endowed with natural human talents would have anything to do with deepening poverty and its attendant sufferings and deprivations.

BY now, the Clinton family of US would have become unpopular in the Federal Government circle because of the forthrightness in the speeches of the famous members of that family. About five years ago, Hilary Clinton, as America‘s Secretary of State expressed her shock and disbelief that an oil rich Nigeria could be an heavy importer of oil refined products.