THERE is a wounded lion on the rampage in Africa. Before the attack on him, President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi and his pride had killed at least fourteen people, injured over two hundred and sent tens of thousands scampering into exile especially on the shores of Lake Tangayika and into Rwanda.

A FORTNIGHT ago, I was in Lagos and with my travelling companions, we were heading for Ibadan. We were low on fuel, but the fuel stations were mini theatres of war. As we passed them, we could see low intensive combats going on. There was of course the option of the black market. But it was selling for N210 per litre in comparison with the official N87. The other problem is that at this parallel market, you could be sold adulterated fuel. We concluded that Ibadan was a saner place to buy fuel.

THE tidal waves of the Baltimore protests against the police murder of African American, Freddie Gray are still spreading. Last week, the waves made a fall in London. But it is just one of the latest murders by the American police and more are likely to follow with the usual response of indignation and protests.

THE world knows the worth of an American citizen. The United States (US) insists that its citizens be ruled by American, not international laws. The US can use African Americans and Latinos for target practice. But outside its shores, the American State can stake all it has to defend an American citizen of whatever colour.

THE attacks against African migrants in South Africa drowned a salutary step taken by that country against a major symbol of racism in the continent. After occupying a pride of place on the campus of the Cape Coast University, South Africa, the statue of British imperialist, Cecil John Rhodes unveiled 81 years ago, was removed on April 8, 2015. It was the culmination of protests by students, lecturers and other South African patriots.

IN early 2012, a television station invited me, as Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to its early morning programme in Abuja. I was to discuss the State of the Nation with particular reference to the economy and well being of Nigerians. I arrived as scheduled, but was told the live programme was to be delayed as two other persons had been invited.

POPE Francis unfortunately, fell victim of the academics and politicians who coloured the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide. To this group, genocide is genocide depending on the perpetrators and the victims. However, if the perpetrators are powerful or have strong allies, genocide become mere murder, killings or at worst, massacres.

IT struck like a thunderbolt from the blues. It was an unexpected goal; against the run of play. One second, Suleiman Abba was Inspector General of Police (IGP) the next, he was gone with the wind in what can be called Hurricane Jonathan. It was the second time in two weeks President Goodluck Jonathan was making unexpected moves, leaving most of us clueless.

HUMAN beings are first migrants. Then they become settlers and settlers become citizens. In every clime, it is not so much your status, but your contributions. Kenneth Kaunda was synonymous with Zambia.

THE out-going Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the in-coming ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have the same DNA. They are siblings of the same parentage. When party politics was re-introduced by the departing military regime in 1998, the bulk of politicians decided to establish a mega party, the PDP. Shortly after, there was a migration by a dissatisfied group, and the All Peoples Party (APP) was founded.