ONE disturbing trend is developing in Nigeria: We are caught in the claws of over-registration, thus reducing every Nigerian to a number. He is a number on the assembly-line; on the pay-roll; on the school register; in the tax office; on the voters’ register; in the banking hall; in his political party; and, indeed, he is a number everywhere!

IT is an unwritten expectation that whoever becomes pope includes the U.S. in his foreign trips early in his papacy. Pope Francis, the Argentine native, will uphold that tradition when he lands in the U.S. today. While here, he will address the United Nations General Assembly and a joint session of the United States Congress, and make other visits to Catholic schools in New York and attend public functions in Philadelphia.

THESE are not the best of times for Bukola Saraki, Senate President and chairman of the so-called 8th National Assembly that has done virtually nothing about its law-making responsibilities, but has continued to rip Nigerians off collecting huge allowances for practically sitting on its palm and watching the sun go down each day since it was inaugurated last June.

THE formal filing of charges against Senator Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, not to speak of the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest for failure to appear in court to take his plea, leaves him with only one honourable course of action: resignation in order to clear his name

A study by the Good Samaritan Hospital Heart Institute in Los Angeles showed that people who have no angina pain before a heart attack are almost twice as likely to die from the attack as those who had suffered angina.

I have watched with amazement your futile attempt to deny the communique of the summit of Northern Reawakening Forum read by you at the end of your recent summit declared open by the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN). I hope the VP would be available any day he is invited to a similar summit in the South!

AREN’T you amused at this federal agency called Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)? And the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for that matter? These two supposed anti-graft agencies can no longer hide the fact that they have become willing tools in the hands of politicians seeking to settle scores and consolidate their strong arm hold on power.

ONE of the most traumatic days in my life was September 21, 2005. Exactly ten years today. A few weeks before, then President Olusegun Obasanjo had again decided to increase the price of petrol (PMS) In reaction, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) decided to hold mass rallies and street marches in selected parts of the country to demonstrate the people’s opposition, and as a warning that the citizenry would resist such increase.

Diego Costa provided the lightning conductor as the longstanding friction between Chelsea and Arsenal crackled to the fore during his side’s ill-tempered 2-0 victory in the Premier League.

This week’s Joyful Homes focuses on the special programme of the Redeemed Christian Church of God ( RCCG) held last month specially for women trusting God for the fruit of the womb.