It is, inexplicable, that despite Nigeria’s ranking as a major oil producer, our economy is still literally in shambles with a tattered currency and a crushing unemployment rate above 25%; we still unfortunately presently expend almost 50% of our total export revenue on fuel imported from some of those refineries which buy our crude oil. Regrettably, despite the regular recurrence of fuel scarcity, with its severe public discomfort, and ravaging economic dislocation, there is still no assurance that this tortuous cycle will ever end. However, if the inefficient, and wasteful sporadic operation of existing government refineries is anything to go by, any serious proposal for government to build and operate more refineries may just be a death wish.

OUR country is a secular state, but the Nigerian spirit teaches us to stand up for justice, defend the weak, the repressed and the oppressed. Nigerians are so fair-minded that even in football, if our national team is not playing well, we sometimes switch support to the visiting team. We are also quite religious; the Holy Books teach us to be our brother’s keeper.

THE decision by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Alliance (APGA) in the 2016 election, Dr. Alex Otti, to remain in politics and put up credible opposition to the government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State is the best thing that can happen to Ikpeazu and Abia State in the next four years.
Some say Ikpeazu has started well. That was how his predecessors, Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji started, but because there was no one to breathe down their necks, they turned the state into their private estates and successfully transferred power to their cronies in spite of their failure and their rejection at the polls. Good governance came to Anambra State when Governor Chris Ngige turned against his godfathers and used good governance to protect himself from them.
In the same vein, Ikpeazu, who will obviously want a second term, will be forced to continue to do well, knowing that Otti and his mass of followers are waiting in the wings.
When there is no credible opposition in a democracy, the people are always the losers.

Most of our Fellow Countrymen (“How many fools make up Fellow Countrymen”, asked Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881, in despair) are emotional and unrealistic. Less than one tenth of one per cent understands the basic principles of economics. Most of the leaders, drawn from the same pool of people, are not different. Even those among the leaders who understand the principles of economics lack the moral courage to tell the truth when issues pertaining to economics become contentious. They choose to play to gallery by telling the “masses” what they prefer to be told instead of telling the truth which might be unpopular.

The devaluation of the naira is the talk of the town. It is on everyone’s lips. From 200 to the dollar, the naira dropped as low as 400, and then rallied again to 310. Although the government has refused to devalue the currency officially, Nigerians know it has already been devalued unofficially.