There is a general saying that when a lie is repeatedly trumpeted without any refutation as a result of apathy, ignorance, fear or self-interest from any quarter, sooner than later, even the ‘lie makers’ will believe their lie and the lie will become the truth in the general consciousness. So it has become with Central Banks’ touted Liberalisation of our country’s foreign exchange market since this dubious scheme was unveiled in May this year (2006).

A little girl kneels down and begins to say her night prayers. She is without the complication of big words and the eloquence of accomplished speakers. What she has is a heart that is pure, offering words of supplication and thanksgiving that are genuine; her audience one after the other opens one eye, then the other and one by one take the prayers more seriously.

The real news was actually buried in what was not written. The man was appointed just a month earlier by the state government to head the Council. Surely, one would assume that the government would have appointed someone with integrity to the post. Was it then a mistake that the accused was selected to head the Council?

The first Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was set up in 1958. The name later changed to the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO). For a while, each of the Commissions operated like a task force that was dissolved now and again thereby depriving the system of continuity.

Someone called me at noon on Tuesday October 12. He told me his name which I first thought was a title. After he had lectured me for the better part of 15 minutes on the Niger Delta and the distraction the bombs of October 1 seem to be causing, and after I had wanted to explain a point or two but he would not let me, insisting that as someone who writes for people to know what is happening, I had to listen to him, I told him no one imposes their views on me.