President Kennedy made that remark during his inauguration address in 1960. I landed in the USA nine months after the assassination of the man who made my American university education possible. But, I always had in mind his advice to Americans. And, I don’t see why it can’t apply to Nigerians. Until now, I never had an opportunity to do something for our country. The genocide at Agatu changed that position. Suddenly, it was difficult to sleep. The thought of several hundred fellow Nigerians slaughtered and thousand rendered homeless by other fellow Nigerians was more than I could bear – especially when everything in the media point to the possibility that more carnage might be on the way. It was time to set out and find out what can be done.

This past week the attention of the international community was turned to the great country called Nigeria. For quite some time, the subject, Nigeria, became the leading news in the western media. At the same time, the search engines also got really busy as two keywords – ‘Nigeria’ and ‘Corruption’ were in hot demand.

Mr. Cameron, British Prime Minister was caught on camera last week saying Nigeria and Afghanistan were “fantastically corrupt” countries. Mr. Cameron was briefing the Queen about his government: “we have had a great cabinet meeting” Cameron said.

Has God ever deceived you? I asked this question in my “Practical Christianity” class and some people were outraged. They initially thought I was being sacrilegious. But I have learnt not to be diplomatic with God. God is our Father. It is a waste of time pulling punches with him. He knows our thoughts in any case without our even having to express them verbally. So let me be so bold as to repeat the question. Has God ever deceived you?

Mutual distrust and suspicion between local communities and herdsmen is probably Nigeria’s most recent internal security challenge. To specifically address the subject, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has developed a strategic initiative of convening town hall meetings throughout the country to enhance the process of reassurance policing and the need for peaceful coexistence and sensitivity of each community’s value, space and interest. The goal is to utilize all Police formations in their respective locations to counter misinformation, anxiety and animosity being generated in relation to the challenge. If police operatives that are deployed in every locality in the nation purposefully follow the directive, so much can be achieved. It is thus no doubt a well thought-out design of public enlightenment which many state governors have also been patronizing. For instance, both at Abesan on October 06, 2015 and at the City Council Hall on January 19, 2016, Governor Ambode of Lagos used the strategy to get many Lagosians to appreciate his administration. It is gratifying that our Information Minister, Lai Mohammed has also joined the group.