THERE has been a tendency to play safe on the part of the Nigerian media with regard to the latest hospitalisation of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The Tribune Newspapers have been the boldest in covering all angles it believes relevant to the developing news.

“In spite of the effusive enthusiasm of this Administration, some Nigerians refuse to celebrate the recent debt relief conditions granted by our major creditors of the Paris club. “Under the terms of the Paris club deal, Nigeria will see $18bn of its total debt of $30bn canceled on condition that it pays the remaining $12.4bn between now and March 2006.

Let me at this point admit some of the constraints you and the president have. His selection and emergence as president have elevated some people into positions of prominence which will be lost if he steps aside. He is also keenly aware of the constitutional provisions stipulating that the vice president should take over if he resigns his office. Since the office of president was zoned to the North in 2007 that would mean that power will rotate back to the South in less than four or even eight years.

SUCH a technocrat, with a track record of good performance in his or her chosen field, of course, should be supported by deputy vice-chancellors who are thoroughbred academics.

The beauty of the project is the re awakening of our zeal for the things of God. The project for me took God out of the Bible and I saw real life miracles happening all around. The Bible says “they overcame with the blood of the lamb and the words of their testimony”and I know many people will overcome when they hear the testimonies that prove that God is still very much in the business of everyday miracles.

The nation’s political atmosphere is heating up unnecessarily over the issue of President Yar’Adua’s ill-health. This is putting the entire question into a negative perspective altogether.

Is there any way that we women can ‘corner’ this weeks article and prevent the men from reading it since we have all discovered this column has most men’s favorite column. This week, I really want to address women. This is we, coming together as women and telling ourselves the truth. We owe that to each other.

It is said that the Special Adviser on Information and Strategic to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, voluntarily withdrew his services on grounds of ill-health earlier this week. It warms the cockles of my heart that he is a kindred spirit, in the sense that he runs a backpage column every month in the Alausa Alert newspaper.

There is arguably none in the corridors of power today that may have endured as long as the President of the Senate, Senator (Brig. Gen.) David Mark.

I must confess that I have never had that rare opportunity of meeting Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in person or read anything about that enigmatic personality until he was appointed the Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria.

One thing became indisputably clear [as the din increased as to whether Mr. President was alive or not; whether he had formally handed over to his deputy, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan or not; and whether the VP was under pressures to resign or not]; and that is that the political elite in Nigeria must hold the common Nigerian in great contempt, and so they deem us, at best, worthy of no more than to be treated as mindless buffoons who must swallow whatever the leaders vomit.

Coach Amodu Shuaibu was reportedly at TB Joshua’s last Sunday to thank him for helping Eagles qualify for the World Cup. Amodu, according to reports, believed TB Joshua helped Nigeria qualify and he visited his Synagogue Church of All Nations to thank him. That is the news in the media now.

WE excel in different areas. Crises excite us, we seem not to be able to do without them. Unlike in other places where crises lead to some peace when they are resolved, here, we make all the noise, get attention, relapse to inexplicable placidity only to wait for doom.

They were General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Chinua Achebe and Chief Gani Oyesola Fawehinmi. My reason for embracing the project was to give honour to whom it was due and encourage others to live the life of heroes who will inspire the young and old of this nation to great endeavours.

It is very painful to accept it, but everything Lord Lugard said in 1922 is still true today. He was prophetic. Today, Ikedi Ohakim, the Imo State Governor, confirms that “Nigeria has become the black sheep of the world oil producing community for her lack of accountability and unproductive use of the oil revenue.” If you think Lugard was harsh, read Ikedi Ohakim’s “The Courage To Challenge”.