COLONALISM was like slavery, one of the most vicious crimes against humanity. But the last 50 years of political independence in a country like ours deepened that tragedy; the colonial masters seemed more humane. The same banditry and misappropriation of our national wealth goes on except that each stage seems a worse pedestal than the previous.

After a tortuous four year qualification journey that climaxed with 32 teams qualifying for the grand showdown in south Africa, yesterday, the field was reduced to eight, the famous eight, one in which any of the teams therein can lay claim and rightly too, to the most prized diadem in world sports.

THE anti-historically impatient analysts may question the base line chosen for the identification of the issues addressed in these election reform series. There is good reason why the choice of the colonial as base is the relevant empirical base. The reason is that Nigeria’s transition from colonial condition to the post-colonial was evolutionary and that post- colonial changes in the structures and functions of our inherited institutions have been adaptive.

None however has been able to tell me what they would do except to slap him back. I realize I am just postponing the evil day by not making up my mind as regards the proposal with Layi. I can have all that any woman may desire from a marriage, material wise that is.

THERE has been a loud increase in calls for the adoption of the zoning principle from the North. Calls for the application of this unfair advantage has been coming, not unexpectedly, from that section of the Northern oligarchy whose hold on leadership in this part of Nigeria and, indeed, Nigeria at large has become a stranglehold.

Saturday Ghana did Africa proud by qualifying for the quarter final of the first ever world cup on African soil. Saturday, Africa, nay the world celebrated what was considered a welcome development in a world cup that has so far yielded tears for a continent that pulled out all the stops to guarantee a hitch free hosting.

MANY Nigerians have expressed shock at the street fight that exploded in the chamber of the House of Representatives last week Tuesday. I am not shocked because I expected it. The two sides – the so-called “Progressives” and the rest of the House supporting Speaker Dimeji Bankole – took time to prepare for it. The “Progressives”, led by loquacious, cantankerous and cheap Dino Melaye, had been making noise in the media, where they issued the Speaker a one-week ultimatum to resign or be exposed for alleged corruption and bad leadership.

Saturday Ghana did Africa proud by qualifying for the quarter final of the first ever world cup on African soil. Saturday, Africa, nay the world celebrated what was considered a welcome development in a world cup that has so far yielded tears for a continent that pulled out all the stops to guarantee a hitch free hosting.

Hi readers! I do my bit to play the Good Samaritan, whenever I can and extend largesse to people, but I draw the line when it comes to being nice and generous to those who I know do not wish me well.

The question of the insurance of NNPC assets is a recurring problem. It will have to be tackled once and for all.
Of course, the President of the Republic, Goodluck Jonathan, has given directive for the probing of the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Some prominent Nigerians who are fond of heaping praises on late Abiola are sincere in their conviction that he deserves all the praises. But majority of pro-June 12 campaigners do not really think that the late politician was a “martyr for democracy”.

Ah! Ah! I know what you are thinking. How dare she use that highly demonized name for our Lord and Saviour? You love the Lord, I love the Lord, and so do thousands of feminists who actually applied that cognomen to Jesus. What is feminism? It is the philosophy that men and women should have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Writing has opened a lot of doors and while I hope it has made more friends than enemies, it’s been a form of therapy over the years. Long before it was popular to have gratitude journals I have kept diaries or what my close friends call my book of lamentations.

“Those who spend their time on small things usually become incapable of large ones”.
Rochefoucauld, 1665.
Let a perfect fool mysteriously become the president of Nigeria today and all of a sudden individuals and groups will spring up singing his praises; investing him with qualities he would not ordinarily claim for himself and Youth Earnestly Asking for Buffoon (let’s call our fool that), YEAB, will surface to organize two hundred million man marches.

The legislature is the weakest link in Nigeria’s current democratic experiment. Its weakness derives in part from the many years of military rule which disorganized the rules of conduct as well as the values of debate necessary for a robust parliamentary culture.