When the currenyear ends on December 31, 2016, several previously sterling reputations would have been diminished because they were deaf to advice which did not emanate from official circles. Despite all the nonsense about having all hands on deck, they preferred to err their own way instead of being corrected by others. In order of protocol, the reputations steadily declining are those of President Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo, SAN, the Minister of Budget and Planning, the Minister of Finance and Mrs Uwais, wife of the former Chief Justice of the Federation who is the Director of the N500 billion Social Welfare Programme, SWP.

In no other department has the Christian church gone as completely astray as on the issue of tithes and offerings. Week in week out, Christian congregations are exhorted, harassed, cajoled, blackmailed, threatened and bewitched into giving more and more tithes and offerings.

There are times such as this, that all you can do is: take a deep breath and shake off the news and carry on. Such is life. Life throws curveballs, it is just the way things are and we should know that life is about taking the rough with the smooth. It is only when such events occur that there is growth.

Brethren, I congratulate you! You made it into the eleventh month and by the grace of God, you will see the end of December 2016 in the mighty name of Jesus.

Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Honourable Minister for Transport and I have never met. The closest I ever came to him was at the Award Ceremony organized by VANGUARD about three or four years ago. But, it is impossible for anybody to be the Governor of Rivers State without receiving more than ordinary attention among governors. So, in eight years, as governor, he drew my attention to himself – first as a PDP Governor and later as an APC leader in the state. To describe him as a tough political operator would amount to a great understatement.