My attention in the last fortnight has not been on the ministerial list or the passage of the 2010 Budget. As important as these and other national matters may seem, I was more preoccupied with the whirlwind of violence that is sweeping the country and threatening its very existence.

THE fiftieth commemoration of the Sharpville massacre rolled by on March 21. It was a landmark because that massacre was conclusive proof that Apartheid could not be ended by peaceful protests or deputations. Africans had poured out on March 21, 1960 in the South African township of Sharpville to protest laws that forced them to carry passes in their own country.

THIS is another season of Ghaddafi-bashing in Nigeria. There is righteous indignation in the land. The Libyan leader, Muammar Ghaddafi has given an opportunity to diverse groups to speak with one voice.

THE Governors Forum, an exclusive club of the thirty six state governors is emerging as the new power centre driving the politics of the country. Presenting itself as a patriotic, supra national and non politically partisan body, it makes magisterial pronouncements which to governors carries the weight of law.

TURKEY, one of America’sstaunchest allies in the Islamic world is furious. Its anger is turned against the United States for a vote on March 4, 2010 by the House, Foreign Affairs Committee which characterised the wholesale massacre of Armenian minorities as a “genocide”.

RUFAI Ahmed Alkali the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, is angry about the word cabal.

WAR mongers and leading candidates for the International War Crimes Tribunal, Tony Blair and George W. Bush were in Nigeria on February 20. The twosome have made our contemporary world far more insecure and turbulent than they met it.

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua after a 93-day absence was brought commando style into the country last Wednesday under the cover of darkness. The Commander-in-Chief tactically evaded the six-man Federal Government delegation sent to his erstwhile Saudi Arabia base; as the delegation arrived, he took off for Nigeria. The hapless delegation was forced to return home in pursuit of their sick leader.

MAMADOU TANDJA who was removed in a military coup last Thursday, February 18, after being president of Niger Republic for 10 years, was a time bomb. His overthrow was not only unexpected, but was in some circles, eagerly awaited.

ACTING President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday February 16, made his debut on the international stage. It was at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State Summit which had been on hold due to President Umaru Yar’Adua’s poor health. It was a befitting one for him as 10 of the 13 expected ECOWAS leaders showed up and the rest were represented.