Being in the air can be ethereal. There is this incomparable feeling of peace and well-being as the plane glides almost imperceptibly between clouds. It is also the closest to nature one can possibly ever get—whether the plane is passing over the vastness of the oceans, deserts, mountains or just clouds— with the fading sun gliding along side the plane like a compass, a lodestar.

The visas to Australia came on the day we were originally billed to travel and two days after we had cancelled our tickets to avoid ‘losing everything.’ It was the culmination of three months of anxiety, of supplying information after information, of taking a fresh polio injection at my age and in desperation, of enlisting the help of my younger colleagues to find out what had gone wrong.

This is not about the politics of the South-East. Or why its leaders were almost united in rejecting the nomination of Peter Obi as Atiku’s vice president. The leaders must have their reasons for rejecting the nomination of the ex-Anambra State Governor so spontaneously and so vociferously. They are yet to let us into those reasons though.

I have a friend from way back who will not hear anything negative about Donald Trump. He is still as combative as he was when we were in secondary school together.

The World Congress of Accountants holds once every four years. It is always held in different places. For example, this year’s congress just held in Australia.

I got an early Monday morning call from Senator Bode Olajumoke a while back. It was an invitation for lunch. Not just lunch, but a specific kind of lunch. He pointedly said he was inviting me and a few people to a meal of Amala with ewedu and fresh fish.

Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the world. What this means is that we are the greatest producer of poor people in the world. What this means is that we have acquired another badge of dishonour.

There is this story told by Kirk Douglas about his son Michael. For the sake of the younger generation which might not have heard of him, Kirk Douglas was an icon among the thespians of his generation.

I don’t necessary mean that in a complimentary way. I know that politicians and indeed, anybody in public life must have a large heart and a thick skin. I know there are no permanent friends in politics; only permanent interests.

The Senate President and until last week, a Presidential hopeful, Dr Bukola Saraki has said countless times that Nigeria is being run by a cabal. He reiterated his position a few weeks ago when he again said: ‘Nigerians voted for Buhari but a cabal is ruling us.’