No matter the result of yesterday’s match against Spain, or what will become of the Flying Eagles desperate fight to get back into contention against Cuba in Turkey today, I have made up my mind to “Port” join and support another sport.

EVERYDAY, at every opportunity, the obvious leadership deficit in the system is lamented.

In recent years, the aura of honour and respectability attached to employment in public service has regrettably faded and is now replaced by popular perception of greed, insensitivity, corruption and impunity. The stability and exciting career prospects in public service attracted the brightest and the best of our youths and the prevailing culture of discipline, integrity and commitment were supported by our traditional value for a good family name.

“The Forum of Commissioners of Finance from the 36 states led by the Chairman, Mr Timothy Odaah, had expressed anger over the unpaid arrears amounting to about N160bn($1bn)”. PUNCH 19, 2013.

Nigerians, for reasons difficult to understand, seem to be totally uninterested in the most important issues affecting their lives; one such is monthly revenue allocation to states. For the last one week, while the focus had been on politics, NGF, PDP etc, the Finance Commissioners of the 36 states had been in a tug of war with the Federal government; which owes them, collectively, about N160 billion.

After the Pastor had handed back the baby to its parents at this baby dedication at a Church, the mother said she had a testimony linked to its birth. She was given the microphone.

Evangelism is mandatory in Christendom. We are called to spread the good news of the gospel. I have personally held the opinion that the greatest evangelist is the one whose life and general demeanour does all the preaching. Evangelism is humility, generosity, gentility of spirit, charity and empathy. Words are meaningless when acts run contrary.

Jesus says his sheep know his voice and follow him: “They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:5).

It has long been established that Nigeria is a country of extremes. Many of its appellations is not worthy of praise nor its citizens got much to be proud of lately. I know Jonah brought out his score card and gave his administration a pass. Well, I am sure those who mark their own score sheet are biased and they would do so dishonestly, especially if they are failing miserably. The facts speak for itself; too many Nigerians have never had it so bad and it is unlikely to change their lot any time soon, unless this government can honestly acknowledge like the other administrations before it; they are squandering our national wealth.

The Nigeria’s Governors Forum, NGF, is not a constitutionally recognized body. But, contrary to the opinion in certain quarters, it is not illegal. The reason is simple. While everything in the constitution is “legal”; not everything that is not in the constitution is illegal. The reader should note the inverted comas in the word legal. Governments in democracies worldwide are under obligations to respect citizens’ rights to privacy; but for “security reasons”, these rights are violated in virtually every country. Governments, all over the world, including those of the US, Britain, France, Germany and India, not to talk of Nigeria, spy on their citizens, routinely, under various pretences labeled as security

One fundamental point that emerges from our discourse on criticism and the growth of democracy in Nigeria is that the ruling class does not really care about the wellbeing of ordinary Nigerians who have been enduring manmade hardships occasioned by mediocre leadership especially since the reestablishment of civilian rule in 1999.