This is one of the root causes of politics-with-bitterness, largely responsible for the notion noted at the beginning of this discourse that politics in Nigeria is a dirty game. If politicians conduct themselves within constitutional bounds, political excitement is less likely to cause problems. But our politicians are yet to internalise self-restraint, democratic culture and patriotism that will dampen the urge to cause trouble by channelling political excitement to harmless or less destructive outlets.

The indisputable breaking news of the immediate past week was the killing by suspected insurgents of several students of the Federal Government College, Bun Yadi, Yobe State. Whereas, different accounts of what transpired centred on about the same content, everyone had a different version of the number of students affected. During a sympathy visit to the school by the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, a Senior Master in the institution, Ibrahim Abdul, confirmed that Twenty-nine students were killed. He added that 11 other students sustained gunshot wounds in the attack. Abdul’s report was corroborated by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Sanusi Rufai who also confirmed 29 dead.

The art of stargazing is a pleasure confined to history, to easier times when life wasn’t running at such a frantic pace. Most heads are so bowed by problems they don’t ever look up at the sky, even if they caught brief glimpses, the sight of a glistening cosmos is blocked by pollution, giant buildings and artificial lights. To most people the stars are barely there, they don’t shine like in the stories!! The reality is that stars have become shadowy, hidden and obscured.

When the news broke that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Africa’s biggest oil producer, is facing questions about where billions of dollars in oil money is going amid suspicions of fraud and it being siphoned among other things, the first thing that came to my mind was how my own family missed out on the whole thing.

The media outlets have been full of the news…on the television, in the radio and newspaper. The CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has been suspended.

Punch Newspapers will roll out the drums tonight to mark 30 years of the passing away of its founding Chairman, Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin— known to many as Olu Aboderin and to some of us as Chairman. This is how it should be for without his vision and courage, there would not have been Punch; a paper that has influenced lives and the nation in immeasurable ways. Punch has become a worthwhile legacy.

A few weeks ago in this column, I wrote: “Both parties (courting) should submit to a thorough medical check up to know their health status: blood group, genotype, HIV status, presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, potency, fertility, etc…” I want to expatiate in view of a few messages, comments and incidents since then.

We all know the story. Following King David’s act of adultery, the prophet visited him and narrated the account of the rich man who chose to forcibly abduct and sacrifice the only lamb of his poor neighbour to entertain his guests, rather than touch any of the several thousands that he personally possessed.

I promise you this is a true story, and I have not, did not manipulate the conversations recorded herein in anyway. I was actually minding my business, trying to decide on a theme for this week’s article – I am seriously tired of commenting on the state of the nation —when my nine year old, the baby of the house walked in to relay a conversation she had just with her older brother, who is 16.

WHEN Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, decided to publicly query the financial dealings and modus operandi of the state oil company (NNPC), my knee-jerk reaction was that he was behaving inappropriately for a government official and must have a murky hidden agenda.