While their association lasted, stories often made the rounds about how “Mother Excellency” imperiously stormed the Government House to remind the Governor of the sacrifices she and her son made, especially the huge amount they allegedly spent from their family purse to put him in office.

The issue of the removal of petrol subsidy is one area that has exposed our government’s characteristic indecision and prevarication.

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.

Someone told me that it is what the country did to Amodu Shuaibu, displaced Super Eagles coach, that God rewarded us for in South Africa. Was it not clear that something mysterious was happening to us? Argentina scored a goal that was queried after the event! But it led us nowhere.

They categorically did not witness any rancour except the one manufactured in the imagination of the reporter.
Akingrogun Osoba, a veritable reporter, was askance. He did not witness anything of such. Two natural rulers spent about six hours at the reception and did not remember any misbehavior. Rather there was talk of the many courses of food there were available. An Eastern Igwe was sure there were five or six – made up of snacks thrown in.

He reminds us why Nigeria has no reason to celebrate a 50th Independence celebration. That Nigeria is, afterall, still not free. That its political freedom is an illusion created to deceive, and that its lack of political freedom is the cause of its terrible underdevelopment, which demands from us to raise this question: “who governs Nigeria?” and that the answer to this question should naturally compel Nigerians to begin the second phase of the anticolonial nationalist movement. We have wasted half a century.

Several notable jurists and lawyers have spoken loud and clear about the virus of corruption spreading like HIV among judicial officers. For example, Kayode Eso, formerly of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has expressed frustration at the elephantine level of corruption by judicial officers, and the manner judges and lawyers of big men and thick madams abuse legal minutiae and technicalities to delay and subvert the course of justice.

That is their kind of leadership. In June, without a budget for the year, our President was in South Africa waving flag in a stadium. That is our kind of leadership. From South Africa he went to Delta and will soon run off to the G-8 Summit and who knows it will be Akwa Ibom next. Still, there is no 2010 budget. And this is the nation the dreamers, including Jonathan, expect will be top 20 in 2020!!! He got a No1 shirt in Toronto fit for jesters.

Dear Madam Helen, I felt so sad and sorry for our dear country after reading through your View-Point on ‘World Cup, weight loss and preparedness’. How I wish every Nigerian, especially those in the public offices and government, could read your expose. – Emeka in Enugu.’

When I think of the three sages, I think grace; people who live as apostles of grace, seeking enlightenment and knowledge. Is it possible that disillusionment and disappointment in the world that we live in is causing us to vent our frustration on each other under the guise of religious fervour? Could it be that we are all buying in to sentiments of hate that cause fear and division? Whatever the case maybe, I would strongly suggest that we all consider being apostles of grace no matter our different religious disposition! To live under God’s grace while being graceful one to the other!!

There should be a law against any form of physical argument or contention within the walls of the hallowed chambers where the laws of this nation are made. We should no longer tolerate or accommodate such reprehensible behaviour as recently wantonly displayed among citizens who smugly answer to the name of “honourable” people.

They never leave me; the wise counsel of my father .We called him Papa .Growing up, there were times when I wanted to be like the other kids in the neighbourhood who were free to do just anything they liked, but papa would not stop playing guide. He was the ready adviser to point the way forward, the teacher of how things should be done.

Stalin’s tendency won and he succeeded in his goals of defending the revolution and transforming what was a backward country into one of the most industrialised and powerful countries of the Twentieth Century. In doing so, there were problems such as the negative aspects of the collectivisation of the peasantry and the internal purges of the Communist Party.

That reminded me that the government could also mobilise to vote the FA out and still reorganise our football without hurting the game. I strongly believe that President Jonathan was not well advised and those who thumbed up his action acted on the spur of the moment which was understandable. But I know that the President means well and can re-address this issue with time. After all, this government once withdrew from the hosting of the last World Under 17n Soccer Championship after bidding and winning the hosting right.

EVERY World Cup has its tall stories. Some of them take place before our eyes, years down the line others would read about them.