In the last three weeks, the nation has been treated to dismal figures of poverty in many parts of Nigeria, especially in the Northern state by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The figures show that about 70% of the Nigerian population live below the poverty line with income of less than $1 per day.

In an intelligent reaction to my article last week in this column titled: IS THE BREAK UP OF THIS COUNTRY INEVITABLE?, a reader, Mr. John A of Onitsha asked some pertinent questions on the likely break-up of the country; he would like to know the number of sovereign states; the agitators; the front runners or the stakeholders of these sovereign states.

A FEW weeks before the start of the unnecessary but costly Biafran war or The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), I wrote an article in the Daily Times with the caption, ‘CAN WE AFFORD TO FALL APART?‘. In my pardonable innocence, I examined the economic implications of a break_up on internal trade and movements of people.

AS a critic of the Central Bank`s tightening Monetary Policy, the latest announcement that the benchmark rate would remain unchanged at the moment is a pleasant news. After reviewing the economy in the year 2011, the Central Bank`s Monetary Policy committee has come to a sensible decision that the policy should remain unchanged.

ANY day and anytime,the question of the ‘Nigerian Condition‘ comes to mind. This is based on finding how Nigeria is where it is today among other nations of the world. Questions are often asked, and justifiably so, on why Nigeria is still a poor country in the midst of abundant human and material resources. Perhaps the answer lies within the complexity of the problems of the politics and economics of the country and the perception of the people (Philosophy).