Anytime I suggest, with good reasons, that successive federal governments have systematically marginalised south eastern Nigeria since the Biafran war ended in 1970, some critics allege that I am over flogging the marginalisation issue, that I must be a tribalist, and that my claim is tantamount to making excuses for incompetent and corrupt Igbo political leaders.

I met the man called the Black Scorpion who died a couple of weeks ago, about four times in the 70s. One of them was when I had this interview with him. I thought of sharing my impressions during those meetings but I believe excerpts of my interview done in August 1977, will better capture the essence of him

Of recent a number of youngsters have killed their parents. The trend is somewhat strange to our culture. So why are some Nigerian youngsters turning on their parents? On the surface, the issues are often trivial: disagreements over household chores, poor grades in school, missing items, differences in opinion and so on, but I believe there are underlying fundamental issues.

I MUST confess that I have no pity, sympathy or regret for those ‘checking out‘of Nigeria for good. They are the losers because of many things they would miss in their miserable absence. In Nigeria, there is no dull moment as this is a wonderful country where there is that notion that “everything goes”. Beautiful Nigeria, I hail thee.

Last week, I complained about justice being delayed. I was referring to the fact that the Federal Government and Ministry of Petroleum had not even started to implement a 3 year-old United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report.

THE past week has not been a fine one for the rightwing Pentecostal Christian movement in Nigeria. And by extension, the moral burden of Nigeria’s ruling class and all our compatriots who swear loyalty to these two sets in our nation’s firmament, also got heavier.

THE issue of how much disclosure is healthy for the citizenry has been a matter for public debate. For instance, if, in a war situation, the President of a nation suddenly became blind and unable to manage the affairs of state, would it be better to make this known to the public; or his lieutenants should shield him from public view and carefully carry on his responsibilities as if nothing has happened?

When they say the office of the president of Nigeria is the most powerful in the world, some take it with a pinch of salt. But when you look at certain factors, you will find it difficult to fault the claim in its entirety.

THE upper arm of the National Assembly, the Senate, reconvened from vacation last week to a new realisation, to wit, that Nigeria is at war. Principal officers of the Senate, led by its president, David Mark, made seemingly strong statements that made clear their belief that the escalation of insurgent activities in the North East of Nigeria is a clear indication that the country is indeed at war.

THIS time each year, heads of state and government from around the world congregate in New York for their annual ritual otherwise known as the United Nations General Assembly. This body is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. Expectations are normally high that each of the General Assembly meetings will produce workable resolutions on how to move the world forward and make it a better place for mankind.