I am in one of my dull moments again when simple situations that are as clear as daylight fail to emerge from the depths of confusion for me to grasp and comprehend like all others around seem to do. Why can’t I understand what is going on? Just when I think I am on top of the unfolding events, something that leaves me panting turns up again.

Sometime ago, I went on a business visit to a client and friend. Inevitably the discussions veered from business to life. We talked about the ephemeral nature of life and vanity. As if preempting me, he told me that when he goes to bed, he sleeps like a baby.

Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan made his way to Eagle Square in Abuja; and, surrounded by a large crowd of cheering supporters, firmly and formally declared his intention to run for a second term in 2015.

Let me begin by expressing relief that House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, finally dropped out of the race for presidency in 2015. Not that he is not eminently qualified; but in the circumstance, he was clearly being set up to fail, and it was also to scuttle the chances of the APC in the 2015 presidential election.

Last week, we started a series, which we hope to sustain in the remaining part of this year — attempting to remind ourselves of some salient issues raised during the year, which we consider important enough not to be swept under the carpet. Given the frailty of the human mind, there is the constant need to follow up on our actions, lest we forget.

By Ochereome Nnanna There is an adage which says: “be careful what you wish for; you might get it”. As the tempestuous tenure of former Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, drew to an end, there was near unanimity that his tenure should not be renewed. Iwu had presided over a presidential election […]

The United State’s government once more showed its disdain for the Goodluck Jonathan administration and by extension our so-called fight against terror by its last week insistence that it would not sell fighter helicopters to Nigeria. The US government spokesperson was reacting to the claim by the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Ade Adefuye, that the US had refused to sell fighter aircraft to Nigeria.

When Muhammadu Buhari ran for president in 2011, he made a solemn pledge to Nigerians: “This campaign is the third and last one for me. I will not offer myself again for election into the office of president.”

MY normal Saturday morning rituals consist of tracking local and international news and watching the English Barclays Premier League football, or soccer as the game is known in the United States. Last Saturday, I ignored both rituals. The league had taken a break due to international soccer tournaments in Europe. As for news, I guessed the world would still be there later in the day when I would catch up with what I might have missed earlier. What I did was to watch all sorts sporting activities when I was not grading students’ papers.

You must have noticed the newest political speculation in town. It must have been invented in the ongoing political transition period because I don’t seem to have noticed it before. It is the act of buying nomination forms for candidates for high office. President Goodluck Jonathan was favoured with this uncommon benevolence by thousands of groups drawn from across the polity.