Providence brought me within a few miles of the American seat of power in Washington around the Fourth of July, the day all Americans celebrate their independence.

We have had many thrilling moments in this World Cup. We have seen extra-ordinary skills from extraordinary talents. As we salute those skills, we must also pause to appreciate the hours of devotion and discipline that have produced those inspiring achievements.

I am still trying to understand the loss of Dr Olukayode Fayemi in the gubernatorial election of Ekiti State and it is not because ‘I am involved’ by lineage. As a bystander, and as a professional journalist, I am involved and therefore curious.

Everybody is misunderstood at some point by someone, somewhere. I have heard people described as aloof and arrogant simply because they are shy and withdrawn. People who have to deal with myriad of issues under pressure are often seen as hard and unfeeling, only to find in a different setting, that they are actually sensitive and caring. In a world of instant coffee and instant news, instant judgements come a dime a dozen.

A couple of weeks ago, we all woke up to find that our favourite newspapers were off the newsstands. This was something we had not seen for a while, and it took many of us by surprise. Many reasons flew around; many of them too preposterous to mention here.

Themortal body of Monsignor Pedro Ayodele Martins, the first Nigerian chaplain of the Nigerian Army, the oldest Lagosian to be ordained a priest, and the oldest priest in Africa, was finally laid to rest last week in a week long ceremony that involved the entire Arch Diocese. It also had many former residents of 1004 Estate and ex-military officers in attendance. He was aged 103. He was also a priest for over 70 incredible years.

His voice was strong, assured and cultured on air; the voice of a veteran. And he is a veteran, having cut his tooth—and his voice— in the old days when FRCN was still NBC, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, fashioned after, and nurtured by the BBC. In the days when voices were trained and diction was important; when there was a strong awareness that whatever was said on air had implications beyond the moment. His wary, ambivalent answers to certain explosive questions on the state of the nation, betrayed this training. It also betrayed his disposition which is usually deliberate, logical and rarely judgemental.

The Nigerian main nationalities represented by their delegates at the on going conference took brinkmanship to a new height last week. The North reportedly set the tone when it published its stance on thorny issues of the conference.

You had to be strong not to be moved by some of the pictures Sky News Television beamed to the world last weekend.

The whole world focused on Nigeria last week. It started with the sudden realisation— as if woken from a deep slumber— that the over two hundred girls abducted had not been traced, let alone rescued, and ended with the World’s Economic Forum where the potentials of Nigeria— and Africa were highlighted.

There are killings in the land, everywhere you turn. There are bombers claiming lives and property and they are not limited to the North East alone. There are kidnappers claiming lives and property and they are not limited to the South East alone.

As catch phrases go, this is as good as many. And those who have been attracted—or entrapped—in the past by alluring phrases like ‘Land of the flowing sun’, The paradise of the East’, ‘An exotic blend of Western and Eastern civilisation’ to mention a few, only to find that what was offered and purchased was not what was delivered will hesitate to buy into it. (Nobody to my knowledge has been able to melt the sun to see its liquid form.)

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. The churches, synagogues and other places of worship will be full. Many of those in the congregation tomorrow go to church only twice a year— the other day being Christmas. Many will make it a family outing and an opportunity for the kids to show off their new Easter dresses.

It is likely there might be some ego massaging and chest thumping by those who believe they have ‘grown’ the economy; especially those in the kitchen cabinet who will grasp at any straw that shows the economy is on track.

Around noon on Thursday, March 6, the main building of Nigeria’s premier club, the Ikoyi Club 1938, was without electricity. It was the first time I would notice that in the almost four decades that I have been a member of this elite club.