Even where it is not in our character to over use a particular quote, we still find it necessary to start today’s piece with the view expressed by Adlai Stevenson as far back as 1952.

ON Tuesday, July 10, 2012, I watched with confusion as retired Justice Alfa Belgore submitted his panel’s report on Constitution amendment, suing for what he called “a stronger” local government system. I do not know whether he meant enhancing the existing local government structure or actually creating a different, more functional system.

IT must be, arguably, the most anticipated Bill,as far as legislation goes in Nigeria. That is the much-vaunted Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); and talking about the typically Nigerian hype, the PIB was hyped! It is described as panacea for every problem associated with Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

ONE wouldn’t know if this is a sign of political ineptitude or an admission of failure but with his claim that his government is being distracted by insurgent activities in parts of the country- activities that have crippled his ability to deliver on his electoral promises, President Goodluck Jonathan increasingly appears to be at a point between a reluctant president and a confounded one.

THE rather untidy involvement of the military in the relocation of villagers around Jos to enable operations against identified terrorists has thrown into sharp relief the current engagement and disposition of the military in the affairs of the nation.

ACTUALLY, the title is misleading though only by half. Unless he was already a millionaire, a president of the United States must perish the thought of becoming one while in office.

IS’HAQ Modibo Kawu summed up in the following the import of the imminent gubernatorial elections in Edo State in his Vanguard Thursday, July 12, 2012 column.

THE above hubristic statement was credited to His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State, as he savoured his re-election on Saturday 14 July. Comrade Oshomhole also tried to rationalise his false alarm against INEC and the PDP. He would not admit that he was hasty in condemning INEC’s conduct of the Edo election.

A DAY after getting re-elected, Governor Adams Oshiomhole surfaced in Aso Villa to thank President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for a job well done. Let us discuss the significance of this gesture.

I start this way. On Saturday night I sat through a punishing ninety minutes as Sunshine Stars of Nigeria grabbed a valuable point away in Sousse, Tunisia against Etoile Du Sahel in the ongoing Orange CAF Champions league round robin stage.

The Malaysian proverb was offered to Nigerians at the second Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja by the Guest Lecturer, a Malaysian, who had worked on that nation’s Vision 2020 programme. Unlike the two fraudulent Nigerian versions – VISION 2010 and VISION 2020 – the speaker made it clear that Malaysia, which was already light years ahead of Nigeria, planned to achieve the objectives of VISION 2020 in a generation – defined as thirty years.

Attrition, social stress and economic losses experienced during extended periods of fuel scarcity would make Nigerians pray that such traumatic situations do not arise. However, we recall the media interview with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, in June this year; in response to a question as to whether subsidy payments were ongoing, she confirmed that out of N888bn budgeted for subsidy in 2012, N451bn had already been paid out, well before the end of the second quarter!

In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord. However, everything he saw was the antithesis of what is regularly proclaimed in the churches. Everything he saw was the complete opposite of what is esteemed in the world. What Isaiah saw was remarkably different from what obtains in Nigeria.

There are superstitions in some countries, where people avoid Friday the 13th. For the superstitious this day is a harbinger of doom. People avoid going out on this day and call in sick.

For decades, she has championed women causes, either as an activist, gender advocate, community mobilize or as a politician. Her in-depth knowledge on women development and gender equity issues were further manifested when she served as the National President of the National Council of Women’s Societies and recently, as the Director of Women Mobilization of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organization.