A little way back there, it was like we were hardly going to be able to govern ourselves properly. If it was not a free-for-all in the “hallowed” chambers of our law-making elements, among distinguished and honourable men and women, it was that we manufactured an impasse in the progress of governance. And then we would begin to pant, and gasp and point accusing fingers in all directions. Now we seem to be a bit more focused on what is wrong as against who is wrong.

Thirty years ago, it would be stupid asking whether we should flog or smack our children as part of the disciplinary measures for their proper upbringing. Many people who are currently in their 30s and above were smacked or flogged by their parents at one point or the other, sometimes mercilessly. But society is evolving. Like many aspects of life, people are asking questions. Even terrains that were hitherto sacred or no-go areas are now being probed and questioned.

Preparing for the herald of a new year in global petroleum business is typified byanalysts retreating into the crystal ball game forprice and market projections. As a lay person in crystal gazingmy first thought for 2016wasNigeriain the quagmire of global geopolitical crossfire, and moving unobtrusively into recession.

Felabrations, the activities marking the death of the music icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti were on till last weekend. Although he has been gone for almost two decades now, yet he lives on in the minds and hearts of music lovers the world over, many of whom never met him; many of whom were not even born when he was alive and performing. Such is the power of creativity; such is the value of enriching your environment with your worth that your stock continues to appreciate long after you are gone.

The increasing rise in cult-related violence has given most Nigerians food for thought as many innocent souls are wasted. While the spread of these cult activities are attributed to the urbanization of many Nigerian rural communities, especially in the case of Delta State, that of Lagos cannot be said to be urbanisation.

Nigeria isthe land of political eunuchs. The country is replete with loquacious apostles of morality , sanctimonious technocrats, who come into government with so much promise butare castrated by a brief exposure to the irradiation of power and money.When technocrats in Nigeria are offered political appointments they accept them before considering the moral complexity of the tasks and potential consequences of their engagements.

THE Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that the screening of ministerial nominees may not be concluded for another seven weeks.

MATHIEU Kerekou, a Major in the Benin Army on October 26, 1972, marched on the Presidency to seize power and save the country from anarchism and becoming a failed state. He then proceeded to clear the mines of ethnicity and political instability, mainly planted by France, the departed colonial master.

WERE the law of comparative advantage to be fully operational, Nigeria would have benefited tremendously from an arrangement where its criminal cases would have been firmed out to Britain and America.

CHIEF Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the self-styled Ijaw leader is one of those I describe as “Nigeria’s surviving problematic elders”. Others in his group include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Ango Abdullahi and the rest.