I do not know when lawyers and journalists will be permitted to see our president. The clerics have seen him, both Muslim and Christian. They must be the ones at the top of the ladder of the holy. We here, on distant earth from heaven, call them the men of God.

If you are wondering what that palaver is all about, let me tell you; because if you are a parent or guardian, with a kid likely to be called for service, this concerns you.

In it Gowon said: “I have now come to the most difficult part of the statement. I am doing it conscious of the great disappointment and heartbreak it will cause all true and sincere lovers of Nigeria and Nigerian unity both at home and abroad, especially our brothers in the Commonwealth.

Dear Dr. Jonathan. I greet you in the name of the Republic. I hope we still have a republic to speak of, seeing that over the years, the foundational republican idea on which this nation was negotiated and founded in the various rounds of constitutional conferences leading to independence has been fundamentally eroded.

A very skinny and almost haggard looking lady walked into a gathering of some friends just as last year was rounding up and quite a number of people were concerned about her appearance. Not being a close friend I had kept my opinion to myself but listened to those who voiced out theirs.

I really do appreciate all my readers. Like I always say, everyone needs encouragement. You really have given me the encouragement I need. To all my readers that bombarded me with mails when they did not get to read my article last week, I thank you for appreciating me and I do apologise.

We clamoured for a new cabinet; now we have one. I was not among those who expected a miracle, but it is only fair to admit that, given our political climate, this new team is the product of high political calculations. If you place it on a chess board, you can rate it as a “Master’s move.”

GROWING up in Lagos, I thought Senegal was one of its suburbs. There was ‘ Bread Senega’ It was harder than other types of loaf but more filling. There were Senegalese men and women who were difficult to distinguish from other Nigerians. Of course, Senegalese dresses remain part of the traditional dresses dear to Nigerians. It is perhaps impossible today, to take a flight from Nigeria to Dakar without encountering Nigerian tailors and traders streaming to Dakar.

I am writing this week’s column from a hotel room to which I had to flee in utter, tearful frustration today because I’ve had almost no electricity in my home for the past few days.

When President Umaru Yar’ Adua suddenly took ill and was flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment, the refrain was: “Pray for Yar’ Adua”. Hardly did the Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili finish any sentence without telling Nigerians that the President was recovering and would return to his work “soon”.

BERNARD LONGE as Managing Director of the First Bank was to the employees what Saul was to the early Christians.Where Saul put the believers to the sword, Longe killed the dreams of many workers; sacking them, imposing unholy policies, violating their fundamental and constitutional rights.

MO IBRAHIM is one of Africa’s global leaders who has not merely stayed at the sidelines wringing his hands in despair about Africa’s travails. Through his foundation he has set out to provide a platform for encouraging good leaders in and out office.

NIGERIA is a land of the unimaginable and this is once more manifesting in the utterly reckless campaign by Maurice Iwu, the unlovable chair of our so-called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and supporters bent on keeping him in office after years of organising what many see as some of the worst heist of the will of the Nigerian people via elections that had been designed to fail right from the moment of conception.

About two years ago, the USA intelligence watch, opined that within the next fifteen years or so, Nigeria would most likey slide into a failed state.There were cries of indignation from Nigerians all over the world.

Hi readers! As soon as Seb left with Peace, the gals crowded round me; wanting to know the contents of my conversation with him. Like me, they too had been surprised to see him back in the room so soon after he was called out to meet Belinda at my gates.