We grew up in the East as the inheritors of fine examples of robust and dynamic leadership that saw Nnamdi Azikiwe straddling the African imagination like a force of nature, or men like Michael Iheonukara Okpara, whose leadership of the East remains without compare. While the Igbo was riding the crest of development and progress from 1957 to 1967, it felt like the rest of Nigeria could not touch its political helms, what with such colorful and eponymous names among its leaders: Akanu Ibiam, educator and missionary doctor, who approached public service with the instincts of a missionary.

The political “game” of the 2011 presidency is becoming fascinating. As people voice their support for or opposition to the candidates on offer, the plot to win thickens, making it even more difficult for observers to attempt a prediction.

There was hardly any newspaper that you could open recently, without reading about yet another group of politicians, civil society, ethnic group or plain opportunists endorsing the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan. The gentleman is yet to announce it, but no matter; several people have done that for him already.

Today, I will go a little deeper on certain issues. Life itself is very deep, and you really cannot fully understand it. Just when you begin to think you are getting a grasp of what life is all about, things happen, and you begin to realize that it really is a little bit complicated.

I was not moved when we crashed out of the World Cup. I never expected wonders from the team. I had prepared my mind for the worst. I saw disaster coming but I never knew it was going to be that bad – that a team would lose two matches and still had a chance to qualify if they won one against a country like South Korea and still failed!